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If the Buckeyes haven't offered Pe'Shon, they shouldn't wait another second. This kid has incredible intangible talents that aren't seen in any scouting report on the internet. And I say that having seen him play just ONCE. Last night at the I'olani Classic here in Honolulu, Hawai'i young 6-1 junior Howard showed a form of leadership and charisma like I've not seen on the hoops floor in many a year.
The junior, first off, is one of the best slashing, physical, take-it-to-the-hoop no-matter-what combo guards with one of the smoothest finger rolls since Isaiah was a Hoosier. But his kid could be one himself, if Columbus doesn't come calling.
But that is just one thing that sticks out about Pe'Shon Howard. Biggest, in my opinion, is what I said above -- his leadership on the floor. Howard not only has the total command of his team with a year left to compete for Oak Hill, but he gained more respect from his opponents and all in attendance than I have seen at this level. In fact, that charisma I mentioned above prevented a major embarassment to both teams in Oak Hill's semi-final victory over Mobile, AL LeFlore last night in the I'olani Classic. This was as intense and emotional a game as I've witnessed, with collective smack talk back and forth all night, and several altercations that could have come to fisticuffs, and the LeFlore coach seemingly encouraging his team's lack of control. LeFlore's sensational 6-11 center Demarcus Cousins looked like a 6-11 LeBron in the first half, and in fact he finished with 39 points, and over 15 boards. But everything Cousins did inside was matched by Oak Hill's 3 guards, Howard, Doron Lamb and the guy named Momo. LeFlore had a good-sized halftime lead, but turnovers brought Oak Hill into an 11 point lead late in the third quarter. Then the Alabama team put on a full-court press and chipped the lead down to two under two minutes.
To sum up the game, LeFlore had the ball last, but down by four, and when it was over, but emotions still high, Pe'Shon went directly to Cousins, embraced him (they clearly have spent time together on the camp circuit), and talked in his ear to calm down the scene for both teams.
Then, away from that, another Oak Hill player said something that brought him and a leFlore player jowl to jowl. Both benches cleared. And as coaches tried to pull their players back, 20 players about to go crazy, in the middle of this, one guy -- Pe'Shon Howard jumped between the warring parties and by his voice and actions prevented a single punch or even shove that could have set off a big-time slug fest. Clearly, both of these teams had immense respect for this young man, and listened to him rather than their hot-tempered teammates or even coaches.
You might think, ahhhh, this was just a scene that could have gotten out of control. But, with the way this game was going, I say a brawl was looking inevitable, especially with one coach shouting at his players to be more physical, rather than to be under control. Pe'Shon alone was able to settle this scene down and stop that brawl. This is the kind of leader any college coach with sense would want at the point for his ballclub. Are you reading this Buckeyes?
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12-21-2008, 08:10 PM
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