Player Spotlight: Senior Taylor Howard- Hightower High School
One of our goals with Qvision girls sports review is to highlight local players who are doing exceptionally well in their season on and off the court. We will take time to choose and shine the spotlight on deserving female athletes across the city. This month we have chosen miss Taylor Howard who is a senior at Hightower High School. I have had the pleasure of watching Taylor compete over the summer in tournaments and camps as well as in the 2016-2017 preseason games and I feel she has really taken her senior year by the horns leading the pack. She was also one of my selections for the John Lucas Top 160 camp. Taylor is a phenomenal kid in the classroom and in her community. I took time out to sit down with her for a quick interview, which was a lot of fun!
Q: When did you start playing basketball?
A: “I started playing ball at age 5 for Stafford Basketball Youth Association”
Q: What or who has inspired you to continue to play?
A: “WNBA player Candace Parker who I love watching during her college career at the University of Tennessee.”
Q: What have been some of your challenges?
A: “Recovery from an ACL injury has been my biggest challenge
Q: How do you stay motivated?
A: “I stay motivated by praying and finding something positive in everything I do. My mom keeps me inspired on a day to day basis with all the love and support she provides. She works hard for me to receive the things I need and keeps me motivated through thick and thin. So I play not only for myself but for my mom every time I step on to the floor to make her proud.”
Q: Which colleges are you most interested in attending?
A: “I’m interested in the University of North Texas, University of Lafeyette, Lamar, Kansas State, and Utah State right now.”
Q: What do you plan on studying in college?
A: “I plan to major in chemical or cyber engineer.”
Q: What’s the key to your success?A: “The key to success to me is to just believe that you are blessed, and be grateful for every opportunity you receive.”
Q: How do you feel about your leadership role this year?A: “My leadership role is to lead my team on and off the court. Motivating and pushing the team every day and every second. Making sure everyone is on the right track to success and just being the best captain that my team can ever ask for.”
Q: What’s a quote or scripture that you live by?A: “Favorite scripture Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Player Outlook: Taylor Howard is a 2017 G 5-11. She has a good range shot, a lefty, and will kill you behind the arc if left open. One game she was 5-5 in 3-pt. and led her team to a victory. She has developed a stronger ability to get to the basket off the dribble with good finishes. She is a good leader on the court and will always find ways to get her teammates involved. She plays hard defense and isn’t afraid to dive for loose balls, take charges or go up with the bigs for rebounds. She is averaging 7.4pts, 1.3asst, 2.6rebs, 1.3stls.
Strengths: shooting without a doubt is one of her most deadly weapons. She is a good catch and shooter from anywhere on the perimeter, especially behind the 3-pt arc. She handles the ball well and make good decisions with passes and movement. She plays with heart and you’re able to see that in the way she plays defense. A great team player. She will be an asset to any college program.
Taylor is also surrounded by a very tough supporting cast in Treazure Mouton 5-9 2017 G, Winnie Kuimi 6-3 2018 C, Jasmine Harvey 5-6 2017 G, and two Freshman guards Taelor Purvis and keirah Clemons. Hightower will be hard to beat this season! They are a good shooting team and play with a lot of intensity so beware whoever has to go up against such a power house squad.
Good luck to Taylor as she pursues her dreams of playing at the next level and finishing strong her senior year at Hightower, I’m most certain we will hear more about her along the way.
Player highlights: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4829801
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