Jared Cohen
Sophomore guard Markus Howard announced that he will be leaving Perry High School and will head to Las Vegas and join the Juilliard of Basketball, Findlay Prep for the duration of his high school career. Howard as a freshman and sophomore lead the Pumas to a 48-13 record over the last two seasons averaging 23 and 32 points respectively taking Perry into the playoffs.
Back in the middle of March, Markus announced that he had de-committed from Arizona State and not long after this decision to reopen up his recruitment, Coach Andy Johnson from Findlay Prep reached out to Howard about the prospect of joining them next season.
“Coach Johnson called me and asked if I was interested,” said Howard. “He liked how hard I play and how well I shot the ball. He mentioned my leadership and how coachable I am. He knows how hard I like to play.”
Excited to welcome Markus Howard @markushoward11 to the Findlay Prep program for the 2015-2016 season! #findlayfamily
— Andy Johnson (@CoachAJohnson) April 15, 2015
Howard this summer is playing for the Las Vegas Prospects under Head Coach Michael Peck who has provided guidance to Howard and his family. Howard will now be the first player to leave an AZ high school to join Findlay Prep since Nick Johnson did the same coming from Highland. Johnson went onto a fantastic career with the Arizona Wildcats earning Pac-12 Player of the Year in his final year in Tucson before being drafted by the Houston Rockets.
The Howard family knows the Johnson family well. Markus’s father Chuck Howard used to train Nick’s older brother Chris while both were at Grand Canyon University. Nick would join in on those workouts from time to time.
“This opportunity takes me one step closer to fulfilling my ultimate dream which is to reach NBA and play a the highest level I can,” mentioned Howard.
Findlay Prep this past season had a deep run in the Dick’s National Basketball Championship tournament in New York City being led by Arizona signee Allonzo Trier, Derryck Thorton Jr. and Auburn commit Horace Spencer III. They made it to the semi-finals before being knocked off by Montverde from Florida.
Traveling around the country and playing against great competition has long been something Howard has experience on the club circuit but now with Findlay Prep, every game on their schedule year-round will be against elite competition. Something that he cannot be more thrilled about.
“Thats all you can ask for,” stated Howard. “Playing on that level now for club will help me but having the opportunity to play against competition that is the best of the best is something I am really looking forward to.”
While the future is exciting for Howard, leaving close friends at Perry is not easy for him. But the support he has received from the Perry High School community is unrivaled.
“Telling them was hard,” Howard mentioned. “Two of my best friends are seniors and I so badly wanted to make a run at a state title next season for them. I just knew I had to make the best decision possible for me and they are supportive.”
Finally, in addition to the news of joining Findlay Prep, Howard also received scholarship offers from Texas Tech and UNLV this week as well. He will be back in town this December as a member of the Pilots will play showcase games for the third consecutive season at Rancho Solano.
