Soft-Spoken Howard Ready to Make Noise for UK Women
Former President of the United States Teddy Roosevelt coined the phrase “speak softly, but carry a big stick.” That saying could apply to Kentucky basketball freshman Rhyne Howard, even though there are technically no sticks in the game of basketball.
Rather than a big stick, the soft-spoken Howard carries a big game with her to Lexington. Howard’s list of accolades is impressive. She was the 2018 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American nominee. She played in the Jordan Brand Classic game, leading the White team with 13 points. During her senior year at Bradley Central (Tenn.) High School, Howard averaged 22.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 steals and 4.1 assists per game.
If that wasn’t enough, Howard spent part of this past summer playing for USA Basketball’s U18 National Team, where she earned tournament MVP honors while leading the USA to a gold medal.
Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell is very excited about Howard’s prospects.
“It’s a really exciting time for us to have her in the program,” Mitchell said. “It will take her, like all freshmen, some time to adjust and you have to learn how to play the college game but I’m confident she’ll have a great career here.”
What is it that has Mitchell so enthusiastic about Howard?
“She has great size and athleticism and speed and quickness, and so that gets you to a certain level when you’re extremely talented, physically gifted, that helps out a whole lot,” the UK head coach said. “She’s a very intelligent player. Extremely intelligent. Just has a great feel for the game. Is coachable from the standpoint of picking up on things. You can correct or redirect her, and you’re not telling her the same thing three days later.”
As for Howard, she, like all freshmen, is still adjusting to her new life as a college student.
“It’s going pretty good so far,” Howard said. “I’m getting used to everything.”
As for why she picked Kentucky over a number of other schools that recruited her, Howard has a couple of reasons.
“I just felt more comfortable here than any of the other places,” she said. “And it’s closer to home so my family and friends can come see me.”
Howard is not one to talk about how talented she is, although she did mention a couple of areas that she considers as the strength of her game.
“Defense, I emphasize defense because when my mom was coaching me, that’s what she would focus on the most,” Howard said. “I can run and I have length.”
While Howard was short on words to describe her game, Mitchell was not.
“She can make adjustments (and has) a lot of giftedness there,” Mitchell said. “and a great person, just so much fun to be around. Great personality. So it will just be, you know, you’ll just have to wait and see how the games play out, but I think she has a chance to be a very good player, and she’s already shown that in the time that she’s practiced with us.”
Howard will be counted on this season to team with veterans Maci Morris and Taylor Murray in the backcourt. Her big-time game is expected to lift the Cats to greater heights this season. And Howard will be fine with that, as long as she doesn’t have to talk about it in great detail.
