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Nothing was going to keep Jeremy Howard from his goal. Not getting cut twice by one college team nor getting overlooked again by another. Not a seven-year period without playing organized basketball. Not making a professional team before seeing it fold just months afterward. Nope, not a chance.
And now his persistence is paying off. Howard, who was a part of Myrtle Beach High School's 2003 state championship-winning team, signed a professional contract on Aug. 14 to play for the American Basketball Association's Savannah Storm, who begin play in December.
Howard recently answered a Q&A detailing his journey. A little background on him first:
Howard tried out for basketball twice at Limestone College but was cut both times. After taking some time off school and coaching the 15 and Under AAU team at Canal Recreation Center, Howard decided to go back to school and wound up at North Greenville, where he ran cross country. However, he hadn't given up on basketball. Howard tried out for the team there, too, but once again got cut. Later down the road Howard tried out for an upstart ABA squad in Greenville and made the team. However, soon after the team folded. Still holding the passion to play, Howard kept the dream alive and eventually got his chance this summer when he signed with the upstart Savannah Storm, with whom he travels four hours each Friday for practice.
Q&A: Savannah Storm's Jeremy Howard
Q | First of all, give me some of the details in how your signing with the Savannah Storm came about.
Jeremy | Well, the Savannah Storm was hosting three tryouts for the team but I only attended the last one, which was on July 31. I went in with the attitude that, if I don’t make it, at least I tried so I won't have any regrets. But the tryout was just like any tryout for a team but this particular tryout you had an interview session in front of the coaching staff and owners. The interview could make or break you, when coming to making the team. It was a very intense tryout, but I knew I gave all that I had that day. So, a week later I received a phone call from the GM of the Storm and he wanted to tell me that they liked my interview session and the performance I showed on the court. So he wanted to offer me a contract with the Savannah Storm. On Aug. 14 I had a press conference with six other guys in Savannah to sign a contract in front of family and friends.
Q | You’ve obviously had to accept setbacks along the way toward your goal. Talk about how hard that was, if you ever were considering giving up the dream and what you learned overall from the hardships to getting where you’re at now.
Jeremy | Well, the setbacks kind of pause a dream that I had coming out of high school. Trying out for two different schools and both schools didn’t pick me up (North Greenville University and Limestone College) really made me feel like I wasn’t good enough. But every guy that was on these teams was more upset that I didn’t make it than I was. From 2003 to 2010, that was probably the struggle part of my life cause I didn’t know my next move in life since I figured basketball wasn’t going be a part of it. So, I decided to give up on the dream and just lift weights and go to school, but I always found myself in the basketball gym playing with the guys. So by doing that every day, a couple of the guys thought I should go try out for a team somewhere. In the fall of 2009 an ABA expansion team came to Greenville and was hosting tryouts that I ended up attending. I made the team but it folded in the next couple of months. But this fueled a fire up again to go try out somewhere in the summer of 2010, so I was working harder than ever to make a dream come true. So, when I made the Savannah Storm team I knew it was my destiny to play basketball. What I learned from all of this was to never give up on a dream no matter the circumstances or obstacles in your way. And trust me, I had some but I made it.
Q | Now that it has been seven years since you’ve played organized ball, what has been the toughest aspect for you to re-adapt to?
Jeremy | Seven years is a long time, but the toughest thing for me is actually being on a team where you have the coaching staff again and having rules such as (3 seconds, 7 seconds to get across half … etc). I had to adjust to these things. I was so used to playing pick-up ball that I had to decrease my game for the team so I can learn more from the coaching staff and other players. After all, I haven’t played organized ball in seven years.
Q | I’ve heard different stories about the ABA – good and bad - so just talk about what you have experienced so far.
Jeremy | Well, I live in Greenville now, so Savannah is about four hours from where I live. Every Friday I travel to Savannah for basketball practice on the weekend and head back to Greenville on Sunday’s after the morning practice. The only thing that I can say is bad about the ABA or playing for the Storm is the traveling up and down the roads for practice but the opportunity to play pro-basketball is what’s keeping me traveling up and down I-26 and I-95.
Q | You played in a very successful high school program. How did that experience – and playing with guys such as Ramon Sessions and Akeem Hemingway, amongst others – help you leading up to today?
Jeremy | Well playing for Myrtle Beach High, the program has a winning attitude in every sport. So the competitiveness and winning attitude mixed together builds a powerhouse program and individuals in that sport and it sticks with you everywhere you go. Well, playing with Ramon and Akeem was a great experience because the way they attack the game of basketball on the court helped elevate my game as well because I looked up to these guys when I was on the team with them. Plus, I would imitate their moves and style of play. But as for how I am today, the winning attitude and competitiveness is still there. And watching the success of Ramon in the NBA and Akeem playing professional ball now, I knew I had what it takes to play pro ball as well.
Q | What is the ultimate goal for you? I know the NBA is usually the goal for everyone, but how do you feel about the prospects of perhaps playing overseas or in other U.S.-based leagues while working your way up?
Jeremy | Well, my ultimate goal is to play in the NBA but I don’t have a problem playing overseas or in another U.S.-based league. At the age of 26 and I haven’t played ball in seven years, I’m taking every opportunity that comes my way. But I would love to see other countries since I never left the U.S. soil before.
Q | You have plenty of experience working with youth, mainly at recreation centers. What gives you such a passion for helping out with the kids?
Jeremy |Well, the coaches such as Buddy Rogers (Rest in Peace) and Clifford Butler use to come and pick me and some of the guys up and take us to the Canal Recreation Center and play basketball all night to help us bond and get used to playing with each other and overall show that they care about us and believe in what we had to offer the Myrtle Beach High School program. And plus, it kept us out of trouble and made us focus more on school and playing basketball. So by experiencing this, it stuck with me over the years and made me a better person and started a fire to help the youth become something great in their lives. And now working at the YMCA of Greenville, it gives me the opportunity to give back like Buddy and Clifford did for me.
TSN file photo
Joseph Harris is one of the most accomplished players in Coastal Carolina basketball history. Now, he's playing on an even bigger level. Harris signed last week to play for the Leicester Riders, a professional basketball team that is based in London and is part of the British Basketball League. The Riders are early in the season and should get a boost from Harris.
He took the time to answer some questions about his new venture.
Q&A with CCU alum Joseph Harris
Q | Tell me about how you ended up with the Riders.
Joseph | I was sitting at home on a Friday and my agent called around 10 and that's unusual; usually it's by 6 pm. So, when I woke up and saw him right away he basically said England is almost official [and to] start preparing to go to Atlanta and then England in two days. He made sure i was interested and told me he would have official offer in the morning. Saturday came around [and at] noon it was a done deal. I was in Atlanta Sunday night and flying to London on Tuesday
Q | How do you think your game is translating so far to playing overseas? Also, what are the biggest differences you've noticed so far in the game over there?
Joseph| So I am translating nicely. The way I play is real simple: just hard and all-out, so you know what you're getting with me. Basically energy, hustle plays, 50-50 balls, charges, blocks and defence and offence will come from that. I met with coach Rob [Paternostro] and basically said "in this limited time I want you to do what you do best and everything else will take care of itself. The biggest change is the physicality of the game. You have to be tough or you wont make it in the style of play over here. No doubt about that.
Q | Talk about how excited you are about being to play basketball at the professional level. Not everyone gets to that point.
Joseph | Man, I'm still in shock. It took a little longer than I expected and I was starting to get nervous. But I'm overjoyed; I'm just happy to be here [and] I'm determined to make every day count. I know [few] people get to do this, but it's my dream [and] I would never give up on it. All the hard work to now paid off and I would encourage others to do the same.
Q | I know there was a possibility that once you were done at Coastal, you were going to go into nursing and give up hoops. What made you decide to keep playing, especially considering you are so far from home now to be able to do it?
Joseph | I mean, I considered it and the big reason behind leaving Coastal was to lighten my parents' load; they already help my brother and sister pay for school, so I thought getting nursing school paid for and play ball at the same time would be lifting a weight off my family financially. UAB gave me that opportunity and it was close to home, which was key, because my dad was overseas at war [and] it would allow me to be there for Mom. But after thinking about it I realized I left unfinished business at Coastal and I wanted to be loyal to the place that gave me a chance when others would not. Also, I realized basketball is only for a limited time. School will be there so I plan to get nursing school done every summer that I'm home.
Q | Was the NBDL ever a possibility for you? Was it something you looked into or were you focused on going overseas from the start?
Joseph | It was brought up that teams were interested but I was still recovering from a broken had so I didn't try out. I didn't want to go out there half-speed and make a bad name. Also, I need fine-tuning on guard work, so I had extra time to get back in the swing of things and work on becoming a guard, which has paid off in england. I'm definitely going to give summer league and the NBDL a try this coming summer.
Q | What's the ultimate goal at this point? A lot of guys who go overseas have different agendas. What is yours at this point?
Joseph | My goal immediately is to get my foot in the door, which I have and prove that I can be solid 2/3 at the pro level. But the overall goal is to fine-tune my game and make it back to the States and play in the NBA as well as have a nursing degree. Dreams don't just come true, they are made. Lastly, I would like to [give credit to Coastal Carolina] coaches [Gus] Hauser and coach [Bryan] Lewis (strength and conditioning coach for MRNA Basketball) for sticking with me and working with me every day until this opportunity came about. This would not be possible without the blessing of the good lord. I just hope to make my family, CCU and the entire community proud.
Q | Last, but not least, you left a Coastal Carolina basketball team that is left with high expectations after last year's great season. What do you expect from them and what are you going to miss about not being a part of it (at least on the court)?
Joseph | I expect nothing less from the team than a regular-season title and conference tourney title. But I believe this is the deepest and best team that Coastal has had since 2005. Barring injuries and distractions I think they have the chance to get in the NCAA tourney and win a game or two. No doubt I'll be watching them very closely. One a Chant, always a Chant. I'm pulling for them as if I'm still part of the team. I feel like I still am. The thing I'll miss the most is the guys and the packed Kimble Arena. It's home to me for the past five years and the guys were like brothers to me. Togetherness is what made us successful and will make them successful!
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