Magic rookie Jett Howard connects with kids at local YMCA, talks offseason
Growing up in South Florida, Magic rookie Jett Howard often spent time at his local YMCA getting introduced to different sports such as flag football, basketball and soccer.
This past weekend, the 6-8 guard-forward had the chance to visit the South Orlando YMCA to present a $10,000 check in partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods and help run a youth basketball clinic.
“It means a lot,” Howard told the Sentinel. “I was just a kid myself in the YMCA so to be to do this is an honor for me.”
Wilson committed $5,000 and Howard raised the pledge to $10,000 through his on-court performance at last month’s NBA summer league, earning money for every point and assist he recorded in Las Vegas.
Howard totaled 40 points and 10 assists in three games. He was one of three rookies to partner with Wilson to raise money for YMCAs in their respective team markets. Cam Whitmore (Rockets) and Jalen Wilson (Nets) joined him.
The Magic rookie understood the significance of the donation and the opportunity to connect with kids from the community.
“It’s so surreal because I was just them,” he said. “To be talking to them now and giving them knowledge and wisdom is cool. I just wanted to tell them that it goes by fast and just try to do everything right.”
It was a full circle moment for the 19-year-old.
“If it wasn’t for the YMCA, I wouldn’t have been exposed to that type of competitiveness early,” he said.
At the event, the Sentinel caught up with Howard to discuss a variety of topics including his offseason training and Paolo Banchero competing with the United States at the FIBA World Cup:
Sentinel: How has your summer gone since Las Vegas?
Howard: “It’s been good. We had a little time off but now we’re back in the lab training and getting prepared for camp. Playing with this group of guys, kind of jelling and building chemistry has been the main focus.”
S: Speaking of chemistry, how has your relationship with fellow rookie Anthony Black continued to grow?
H: “It’s super strong. We’ve known each for years playing against each other. Now that we’re on the same team, it’s kind of weird. His mom is like my aunt and my mom is like his aunt. We’re like family.”
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S: What’s something you’re working on that you want to improve before camp?
H: “Probably my conditioning, learning the system, making my shot the same everything single time, being a better teammate, defense and passing. You really have to figure out something you want to master so the coaches and I are trying to do that right now.”
S: Now that you’ve had time to reflect on summer league, what’s something you learned about yourself?
H: “My ability to adapt. [At summer league,] you’ve never really been around that group of guys, you have to figure out how to play and feed off each other. It’s kind of like AAU in a way. It’s fun and it teaches you how to compete at a high level.”
S: How excited are you that training camp is quickly approaching?
H: “It’s going to be awesome. It’s going to be super fun. It’s going to be a good learning experience for me — my first one. I’m just trying to be as prepared as possible.”
S: Are you watching Team USA and Paolo?
H: “I’m watching Paolo a lot. He’s the most versatile young player I’ve ever seen. He’s a 5, a 4 and a 3.”
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S: What do you make of him playing at the 5? What can you learn from watching that?
H: “Just how to be useful in any position that they put you in. He’s like a Swiss Army knife. That holds value itself. He can guard the 1 through 5 and we look up to that.”
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
