Syracuse Basketball: Frank Howard chasing NBA in honor of his brother

Former Syracuse basketball guard Frank Howard is preparing for the 2019 NBA Draft. Here’s what drives him everyday to be the best he can possibly be.

After four years of ball at with the Syracuse basketball squad, Frank Howard is now putting all of his time and energy into his preparation for the 2019 NBA Draft.

Things have been relatively quiet throughout the offseason process for Howard. He worked out for his hometown Washington Wizards last week and in the workout was hoping to “show his competitiveness and be a dog out there on both ends of the floor.”

While this week he was also with the Sacramento Kings working out at their facilities.

For what it’s worth:

• Washington Wizards
  • The squad only owns one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and that’s ninth overall. It would be quite the surprise if Howard was taken in the top-10 of the draft. So in other words if Washington wants Howard, they’ll have to hope he goes undrafted.
• Sacramento Kings
  • On a more realistic basis, the Kings own three second round picks (40th, 47th, and 60th) and realistically could take Howard at any number of these spots or like the Wizards could attempt to lure him as a priority free agent following the draft.

These are the only reported workouts that Howard has participated in.

But what drives him? Is it the millions of dollars? Is it the glory? The fame? In an interview with Washington Wizards reporter Chris Miller he revealed it’s something much deeper:

"“July 4, 2002 (tattooed on Frank’s arm), my brother passed away at the age of 23. I rarely remember anything from that young, but I remember those times with the family together. He left me some nieces and nephews that I get to look at and they’re beautiful. That’s why I come to these workouts. It’s hard to explain and I’m lost for words and I just try to leave everything on the court.”"

Frank followed that answer up by talking about how important his support system has been throughout his life and basketball career during the good and bad times:

"“The support is huge. I talk about all the things I’ve been through. Whether it’s good or bad, my family is always the first ones to give it to me. If I need a pat on the back or a kick in the butt, they’re always there for me. My family is everything. Being away from home for four or five years, you don’t realize how much you miss them until you return home.”"

Speaking of those bad times, Howard’s Syracuse career ended on a sour note. The Orange

More from Inside the Loud House

• Syracuse Football: Cuse boils Purdue, turns attention to Army on Saturday
• Syracuse football only team in country with top-5 scoring offense, defense
• Syracuse Basketball: 4-star Elijah Moore not in top 100, and I don’t get that
• Syracuse basketball 4-star west-coast recruit, in new rankings, into top 20
• Syracuse basketball is hitting D.C. market hard in pursuit of 4-stars, 5-stars

made the NCAA tournament, but Frank wouldn’t play in it due to a suspension levied by the NCAA. He talked about that in that same interview with Chris Miller:

"“Decisions. In a split second, it can be all over. I was just lucky that it was basketball and not my life. I just try to move forward and learn from that and life is all about your decisions.”"

On facing that situation moving forward…

"“It should be brought up when teams talk to me and I hope it’s brought up. It’s not something like I’m going to explain myself it’s about I’m taking it on and learning from it. I don’t want that one moment to define me. I want to as a man look someone in the eye and say that’s not who I am.”"

In perhaps the most real and candid response from Frank over the last five years, he described his time at Syracuse:

"“If I had to pick one word it would be maturity. I think I grew on and off the court up there during my four years and I became a man. It didn’t go exactly how I dreamed of it as a kid: with injuries, suspensions, and playing time, etc. I was involved in every situation you can be in. I was a bench player and I was a player that was on the court for 40 minutes.”"

Frank Howard also commented on his best game at Syracuse:

"“Two come to mind, but we didn’t win so that one doesn’t count. Probably the game at Duke this past year. I didn’t even score that many points, like 17 or 18 points, but I just felt like I was in control. We controlled the game and we got the win.”"

On the Zion Williamson trip:

"“Close friends of mine ask me about this all the time. I’m honest about it man I didn’t mean to trip him and I wasn’t trying to hurt him. He’s a big guy and he dunked the ball and he was doing his run back and he usually bumps you on his way back. I was trying to avoid the bump and go in between Zion and another player. It’s basketball it’s a tough guy sport and I’m all for the grabbing and the elbows within the game. I’m all for a physical game just not something dirty or anything. It wasn’t malicious by me or anything and if I would’ve tripped him on purpose I would’ve admitted it, but I didn’t try to trip him.”"

Speaking of Duke, Frank Howard was asked if he was playing a pick up basketball game which of the big 3 at Duke (Cam Reddish, Zion Williamson, or RJ Barrett) would he pick first?

"“That’s tough because they’re all so different. All of those Duke guys are terrible, I’m joking, but since I’m a point guard and a play-maker, I’m picking Zion because he’s a finisher and a workhorse. I’d say Cam Reddish is the most talented of the three. Zion has the best motor out of all of them. While RJ just has the best feel of the game. It’s really 1A, 1B, 1C kind of thing with those cats.”"