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O U R D OW N TOW N B I G S P R I N G O F F I C E WILL BE OPEN SOON!
Building a foundation, celebrating the legacy ... The Big Spring community area foundation has been serving the local community and surrounding area for the past 20 years. With the recent aquisition of an office space, the Foundation is starting to reach out in the community in ways never before explored. this past year offered new opportunities for the foundation to build upon the legacy that was started years ago and help leave deeper roots.
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Celebrating 40 years of making dreams come true
Southwest college for the deaf has been helping students achieve their dreams in a unique campus style and self-contained community college for almost 40 years. With the significant need to further options in higher education SWCD has been the career training opportunity for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
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World Travels: Howard College basketball destination for ballers around the world
Howard College has built a team with players from around the world and the upcoming season will show how the talent that has been carefully picked will jive and be a force to be reckoned with. Howard College hawks are ready to hit the court.
On the cover: Manny Negron captured the beauty that exists within Howard County - at the Historic Spring which was recently renovated - when a fresh snowfall has blanketed the area. Howard County received the largest snowfall on record as rememberd by locals in January.
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Snow Scenes
Local artist kay smith shares tips on painting a beautiful snow scene this month. as howard county has been privileged to see more snow in the first month of 2021 than ever before, the topic is fitting for the times.
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The Perfect Child (as seen by the child)
Big Spring resident joel miller shares one of his short stories this month. Each of his stories have formed from memories of his childhood and adventures he had as a child.
Published by the Big Spring Herald. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Living Magazine is published monthly and distributed to businesses and residents of Howard County. Amanda Duforat is the editor of the Living Magazine. Editorial correspondence should be sent to Living, P.O.Box 1431, Big Spring, Texas, 79721. For advertising rates and other information, please call 432-263-7331.
Building a foundation, celebrating the legacy ... ByAMANDA DUFORAT One person’s vision to leave a lasting impact for the benefit of the Big Spring and Howard County communities has grown in to one of the fastest growing Community Foundations in the State of Texas. The vision and philanthropic endeavor is still serving the area 20 years later. “The Foundation has grown to over $14.9 million while administering 28 funds since its inception,” Greg Henry, Executive Director of the Big Spring Area Community Foundation, said. “This didn’t happen overnight and it happened only because of the vision of one man who wanted to leave a lasting impact and allow the opportunity for others to do the same.” A community foundation is a public charity that focuses its support on a geographic area by combining the philanthropic efforts of individuals, families and businesses. The foundation administers funds created by gifts specifically identified to address the community needs and provide support for the community through grant making opportunities for 501c3 non-profit organizations. The local foundation serves Big Spring, Howard County and its contiguous counties. “I tip my hat to Drew and the foundation board for their vision and dedication in seeing the Community Foundation grow and flourish,” Greg Henry, Executive Director of the BSACF said. “Drew has worked tirelessly to ensure the Community Foundation fulfills the dreams of those who established the foundation and knows the importance of creating a legacy through gifts to benefit Big
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Spring now and forever.” The BSACF was officially issued a Corporate Charter, a couple years after the initial idea was birthed by Howard County resident Charles Beil. The Charter was received from the State of Texas in February 2021. Beil had submitted a plan to a committee of active community supporters who felt encouraged to create a community foundation because it gave area citizens the opportunity through gifts from their wills and annual donations to support the community of Big Spring and the surrounding areas on a permanent and forever basis. The first Board of Trustees, once the Charter was established, were Charles Beil who served as President; John Ferguson, local attorney who is still practicing; Billye McLaughlin and Myra Robinson. In February 2003, the existing trustees made the decision to expand the board and added four new members. At this time, Drew Mouton, Joe Concience, Sam Bennard, Tommy Churchwell and Jim Little were added to complete the nine member board. Beil served as the Community Foundation President until Feb. 10, 2005 when the hat was passed on to Drew Mouton. At that time, Tommy Churchwell also stepped into the role of Vice President and both men are still serving on the Board in those same roles. “The impact the Foundation can have on the community is directly related to the amount of funds we have available to grant and the vision of our Board and Executive Director. We are just beginning to achieve the
Courtesy photo The Big Spring Area Community Foundation in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife will be installing fish habitat attractors during the month of July 2020 in Comanche Trail Lake through the Hayes Stripling, Sr. Memorial Fund administered by the Foundation
to offer that much needed support. During the pandemic, the Foundation was able to provide 66 local businesses with a relief grant to help them get through the first shutdown. In addition to the small business funds, the support was extended – for the first time – to actual families in the community when the Foundation was able to pay off more than 120 water bills through a grant awarded to the City of Big Spring, providing financial relief. According to Henry, of the 66 supported businesses, 64 are still in operation. “We had a couple of the supported businesses reach out and let us know they had to shut their doors. They let us know they did the best they could, but they just couldn’t keep the doors open. In all honestly, that’s what this support was about, we wanted to give these businesses every fighting chance to get them through this pandemic shutdown,” Henry said. “Many of the businesses told us the funds we provided them with where a much needed shot in the arm.” In addition to non-profit support, the Foundation is able to provide scholarships to local students each year. According to Henry, this year the Conley Prime Cut Scholarship administered by the Foundation has begun offering a Vo-Tech scholarship that will expand their outreach. “Through the scholarships we award we are helping support the youth in hopes that they will go receive the education and the training and then return to Big Spring and invest into the community which helped grow them,” Henry said.
benefits we always knew the Foundation was capable of,” Drew Mouton, President of the Board of Trustees for the BSACF, said. In 2019 the BSACF found another opportunity to expand, as the portfolio continued to grow. The all volunteer board decided a pivotal point had been reached where full-time focus was needed to allow continued growth and success. “The Board knew for years that we needed full time leadership to realize the full impact the Foundation could have on our community. Greg Henry has been a perfect fit for the role and we are watching the Foundation go places we could only dream of,” Mouton said. “We are only now reaching the point where we can begin having a substantial financial impact on our community. I am most proud of the grants we made in 2020 to benefit both individuals and businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.” While the main focus of the Foundation is to offer supporting funds to the area non-profit agencies, 2020 brought new opportunities to extend a helping hand for those in a time of need. As many small businesses were forced into the drastic changes in daily operations and struggled to keep doors open as the nation was dealing with a shutdown and a pandemic, the availability of funds and less stringent IRS restrictions due to a nationally 501 N. Birdwell Ln. • Big Spring • (432) 267-7781 declared emergency opened the door
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right here in Big Spring and Howard County. “As the general public becomes more and more aware of the many varied ways they can support their preferred scholarship or charitable cause, the sky is the limit for the future benefits our community will receive from their Community Foundation,” Mouton said. “The impact the Foundation can have on the community is directly related to the amount of funds we have available to grant and the vision of our Board and Executive Director. We are just beginning to achieve the benefits we always knew the Foundation Courtesy photo was capable of. In addition to the numerous support avenues extended to the community, Now, 40 years later, the vision the Foundation has a heavy emphasis on supporting the youth. Through has expanded and the heart of Big scholarships presented annually, the Foundation hopes to support the youth Spring continues to shine through of the community to explore outside of Howard County, earn their degrees the continued donations and supand come back and build careers in the Big Spring community. port received by the generous As the Foundation moves forward and looks to the hearts that exist in our community. future, according to the Board and the Executive Director, The work that the Foundation is doing is not work to be the biggest push is going to be the building of awareness ignored. in the community. Educating the community on opportuniThe current Board of Trustess for the Big Spring Area ties to leave a lasting impact on the community in which Community Foundation are: Drew Mouton, President; they live and the avenues available for support that exist Tommy Churhwell, Vice President; Jim Little, Jan Foresyth, Luke Crownover, Bobby McDonald, Leslie Elrod-Hobbs, Maureen Haddad, John Ferguson, Diana Wood, and Jerry Worthy. The mission of the Big Spring Area Community Foundation is to establish permanent charitable endowments, to provide a vehicle for donors’ varied interests, to promote local philanthropy, and to provide leadership and resources in addressing local challenges and 1305 Scurry St. opportunities without conflicting with (432) 267-6524 other community or religious programs. “The work the community foundation does is one that has endless potential. We are blessed to live in an area that is filled with generous hearts,” Henry said. “Each year we have added to our portfolio which means our opportunities of support continues to grow.” For those looking to leave a lasting impact on the community through philanthropic avenues, contact the Big Spring Area Community Foundation. office is located at 707 Scurry and Let us help you choose the right supplements for your heart, The can be contacted by calling 432-714and the rest of your body, too! 4316 or by reaching out to any of the board members.
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FEBRUARY IS HEART HEALTH MONTH!
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SNOW SCENES
By KAY SMITH Green is predominant for summer months and is the most difficult color in many landscapes, so painting snow scenes is a welcome change for most artists. When we do get snow, painters like to study it visually and take many photographs for scenes to paint later. An interesting fact about snow scenes is that the landscape appears much more tonal. With an overcast sky, the snow-covered land is for once, lighter in value than the sky, and the dark shapes of buildings and trees stand out in sharp contrast with the lighter value of the snow. In watercolor we just use the white of the paper and in oils, pastels, and acrylics white paint is the norm. These contrasts can make for some very dramatic and exciting compositions, with a cool, moody atmosphere. In complete contrast, sunny-day snow scenes present an exhilarating, high-key mood. The snow becomes a great sheet of white paper on which bluish-purple shadows and golden highlights are drawn. This is noticed particularly in the early morning and late afternoon, when the upright snow covered planes reflect the warm yellow of the sunlight, while the shadows, dips, and hollows reflect
the cool blue of the sky. In fact, snow is hardly ever pure white all over. Watercolor is the most economical medium for painting winter snow scenes, as you can leave large areas untouched by your brush to represent the lightest lights. Model the contours in the snow with pale washes of blues, grays, and yellows. Use straight lines and hard edges where the snow if fresh and clean; indicate patches of melting snow by using scrubby dry brush strokes to represent the earth peeping through. If painting outdoors in winter, your washes will no doubt freeze as they are applied. This may result in attractive snow crystal effects; it very often means you are pushing ice mixed with paint across your paper. If you will apply colorless alcohols such as gin or vodka to your water they will act as an antifreeze. Paint will not freeze if using oils. Visit Brushworks Studio at 2106 Scurry or http://kaysmithbrushworks.blogspot.com Living Magazine
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Celebrating 40 years of making dreams come true
By IRIS RANGEL After decades of determination and willpower, Southwest College for the Deaf will reach their 40-year landmark with Howard College. It’s unique campus-style and self-contained community college setting has allowed for thousands of deaf and hard of hearing students to graduate and achieve their dreams. A study indicated that there was a significant need for further options in higher education and career training for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Typically, deaf and hard of hearing students have little options when deciding where to attend higher education. Thus, Southwest College of the Deaf created their shining light for students in 1980 when the first 8 Living Magazine
classes were held. “Through our unique campus opportunities, our students are given a sense of ownership in the development of their educational and career goals,” Jeff Anderson, Division Chair Career Technical Education; Associate Professor ASL Deaf Support Specialist Program said. “Through their personal experiences, students promote the culture of success which serves as the thread that ties us to the deaf community around the world.” This unique way of creating an atmosphere where hard of hearing and deaf students from across the country could come together and share the same college experience allowed for students to interconnect amongst each other with their own personal experiences. “Students attending SWCD are surrounded by a shared culture learning experience where students receive instruction, tutoring, and counseling in their first language of American Sign Language (ASL),” Anderson said. “With a self-contained campus and small class size, students are provided individual attention and have a unique opportunity to engage with their peers through dorm living and student activities.” SWCD or Southwest College of the Deaf was designed in a way where students could have opportunities for multiple career paths. Being a one of a kind, self-contained community college serving only deaf and hard of hearing students, SWCD offers Associate degrees and certificate programs, class internships, athletic programs, and various student organizations. “The campus is designed to meet their unique commu-
Having a Special Occasion or Event? Experience the time of your life at The Courtyard. Downtown Big Spring's Best Kept Secret. Enjoy a soothing water fall with your party guest. nication, education, training, and cultural needs so that students can grow academically and socially,” SWCD’s Executive Dean Danny Campbell said. “Through student activities and other student engagement avenues, students are able to improve their self-image, confidence, and leadership potential as they prepare to continue their education or enter the workforce upon graduation.” With their forward-way of thinking, SWCD provides its students with exceptional opportunities and resources to gain valuable knowledge post-graduation. Faculty and staff at SWCD are determined to support their students with the best guidance and instruction to cultivate leaders and opportunists from the deaf and hard of hearing communities. According to Anderson, SWCD even offers it’s students options such as mainstreaming and hybrid scheduling where students can attend all of their classes on the Big Spring campus, but live on the SWCD campus, or attend classes on both campuses via online or in-person. This creates a premier opportunity for both Howard County and the deaf community of SWCD to grow together. “It is our goal to continue to be flexible and provide the best learning environment for our students,” Howard College President Cheryl Sparks said. “We do this by continually looking at best practices and innovative teaching/training strategies and techniques to meet the current need as well as needs of the future. We will meet the challenges head-on and consistently raise the bar in deaf education.” According to Campbell, SWCD’s alumni are their greatest treasure. Alumni from SWCD include graduates who are now working as dental lab technicians, auto mechanics, sign language interpreters, instructors, tutors, welders, college profes-
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sors, pastors, and various other professions. “Students choose to attend SWCD because the campus celebrates their individuality and prioritizes their unique needs,” Sparks said. “Our faculty and staff are dedicated to their specialty and work with each individual student to help them achieve their best outcomes for their education, their career, and their life experiences. Our students become dreamers and then leaders with the SWCD experience.” That exact dedication from faculty, staff, and even students are what put SWCD on the map. Their unparalleled support for the deaf and hard of hearing students has created an atmosphere untouched by the predisposed misconceptions of society. Dreams turned into reality that’s what you can expect if you attend SWCD. There are countless individuals throughout the community to thank for their contribution to the Southwest College of the Deaf. Over the past 40 years, the creation of SWCD has instilled a community and environment for all deaf and hard of hearing students to take part in and successfully continue to grow. “We could not exist without their unwavering support for SWCD. What started as a tiny seed 40 years ago has grown and blossomed into a nationally known educational institution, thanks in great part to
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the support of the Howard County community and its citizens,” Sparks said. “We are forever grateful for the support and look forward to the bright future we share. We love the Big Spring and Howard County people for embracing the deaf world and exposing our deaf and hard of hearing students to rural hospitality and giving them roots.” SWCD’s mission is simple. To build communities through quality, innovative education for lifelong learning. But that mission doesn’t stop at the period. Looking towards the future, SWCD holds long-term goals to improve outreach and enrollment by offering dynamic dual credit opportunities, grow enrollment overall and arise from the negative impacts of the pandemic, improve infrastructure and technologies to better serve students, continue to evolve each year through the addition of new career and technical educations majors, and strengthening partnerships with other universities to allow its students further transfer opportunities. Students from around the world have attended this community college. Each with their own diverse backgrounds and interests. This unique and rare junior college has made its mark in both the community and around the world. On behalf of the community, we look forward to seeing just how bright this college can shine.
THE PERFECT CHILD (as seen by the child) By JOEL MILLER I guess a mother will see her child as perfect, but we, as children, do things that she knows nothing about. It is not that we do it on purpose, we just do what we perceive as right at the time, or at least what we want to do. My mother always knew we were almost perfect and would defend us if anyone ever said something bad about us or accused us of a wrong doing. I remember one time, I guess I was about 8 or 9 years old, we lived in Montana, close to the Cut Bank River. It had a big dirt beach that I always played on with my cars. This one day I was playing with a friend when another boy we did not like came down to play with us. I saw him coming and dug a hole in the dirt. I pulled my pants down, made my deposit and covered it up. When the boy asked if he could play I said yes, but he had to dig in this one spot only. He did, he ran home crying and his mother called my mother. Mother said I would never do such a thing, but she would talk to me. When I got home she asked if I did such a bad thing and I denied it. Case closed. Another time, there was a woman that had put out empty milk bottles for her weekly milk supply. She put the money in one of the bottles. I went over there and took the money. She accused me of stealing and once again, my mother said I would never steal from anyone, I was raised not to do things like that. No proof and case closed. I had a very trusting mother. The year was around 1945 and my sister and I were given money each day for lunch. I loved to play marbles
at recess, but was not good at it. I would take part of my lunch money and buy a bag of marbles (five cents, I think) each day and lose them at recess. I always ate, but not as much as the other five cents would buy. Mother never knew about this. We moved back to Oklahoma in 1947 when I was 12 years old. I joined the Boy Scouts and became a senior Scout leader for a Cub Scout den. One day I was tired of school and went home, claiming to be sick (back then you could do that, if you called your parent.) That particular day was when the Cub Scouts met. I called my
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mother and said I was going to the meeting. “I thought across from the truck yard. I was always petting him and you were sick,” was the reply. I told her I took an aspirin leading him around. When he got big enough to start and laid down and was feeling much better. “Okay - if training, I would put a halter, saddle blanket, and finally you are sure you are not sick.” I was feeling much better, a saddle on him, leading him around. He took it all in stride. One day, I put all my weight on him to see what but I never used that excuse again. he would do. He shied a little, but that was all. I thought Another thing I did I hoped my parents never found I could break him, in spite of my dad telling me he would out about was that I was a coward after dark. My dad do that. I put my foot in the stirrup and swung my foot bought several oilfield trucks after we moved back from over his back. Instead of clearing his back, I kicked him Montana. We lived in the truck yard and it was my job in the butt, he bucked, and I landed hard on my shoulder. to go check to make sure all the windows were rolled up How do you tell your father you did what he told you not and the keys were removed from the ignition. All this to do? I didn’t, I just suffered. after dark! I bribed my younger sister to go with me. It Lastly, when I graduated from high school, we had a cost me a nickel a week, but it was worth it. I was a hobo themed after school party. Someone rented a Boy Scout about this time and we had small pup tents motel room and we had a drinking and gambling party. that we slept in when we went camping. I soon learned Someone yelled we were locked in and the the law had that snipe hunting (imaginary wild animals that were been called. We all dived under the bed, went into the caught at night while holding a bag open) wasn’t much bathroom, and tried to get away. Nothing happened, fun, especially if they followed you into your tent at night. One night the snipe were really bad. I didn’t catch any, so but we were scared to death. By this time it was late at night, so three of us went out on the highway leadafter I went into the tent, I got scared because I did not ing into town and stopped traffic and asked for money. know what they looked like or if they were vicious. The Three drinking hobos, at midnight begging. You have to only thing I could think of was to kick my tent pole, break remember this was seventy years ago and things were a it and go sleep in the tent of the scout leader. lot more tolerant then. One car said he was going to the While I was in school, Oklahoma was a dry state. Lepolice so that ended our fun for the night. gally, there was no alcohol bought. But, if you knew the Mother has been gone now for over twenty years, but I right people, you could always find some. One of the high school student’s dad was the local bootlegger so we often wonder just how much she really knew about what we thought was a secret. I know she was much more always had access to a drink. We would buy a six pack tolerant than we realized at the time. I now know that is of beer and go to the country to drink it. I am sure dad the way with Mothers. knew, but if mother ever found out, she would say so. I would have gotten a stern lecture. I remember one time when I lived in ANNOUNCING INCREASED SALARIES the Rio Grande Valley, in Mission, we LVN up to $4072.01 per month DOE went across the border to Reynosa, RN’s up to $5755 per month DOE to a night club and enjoyed the floor PNA’s starting at $2312.85 per month show and the drinks we could buy, no questions asked. When I got home PART TIME POSITIONS NOW AVAILABLE I went straight to my room, thinking For more information on jobs and salaries: I had got passed my mother. No! CALL Paula at (432) 268-7674 or The next morning, I got a very stern Submit a resume to lecture on the evils of drinking. jennifer.patton@hhsc.state.tx.us The next year my father moved the for initial screening; application process will be initiated at a later time. truck yard out on the highway, just Or visit us at: outside of town. This was great Big Spring State Hospital because I could shoot my 22 rifle. 1901 N. Hwy. 87 Big Spring, TX 79720 There was a grocery store across the GMS/Medical Clinic highway and dad opened up a charge Laboratory Tech 1/GMS Runner account. I bought my bullets there, Flexible Daytime Working Hours but I also bought cherry bombs. I In GMS Laboratory would place several on the highway Salary Range: $2,075.83 - $3,047.58 and wait for a car to come by. When According to Experience the car ran over the cherry bomb, it Contact our Job Center would explode and the car would stop 432-268-7341 or 432-268-7298 and check for a flat. Of course, I was Or hiding and would laugh at what I had Complete an application online at done. https://accesshr.hhsc.state.tx.us I also had a beautiful Palomino colt that was kept out in a pasture, 12 Living Magazine
BIG SPRING STATE HOSPITAL
World Travels: Howard College basketball destination for ballers from around the globe By SHAWN MORAN The Howard Hawks have been known as one of the most competitive and prestigious junior college basketball teams in the country for years. They reached the pinnacle in 2010 when they put together a record-setting season and won the National Championship under current then Head Coach Mark Adams, who now serves as an assistant coach at Division I national powerhouse Texas Tech. Current NBA player Jae Crowder once suited up for the red and black under Adams and the long list of Division I commits from Howard has continued under current Head Coach Scott Raines. Eric Reed Jr., from last year’s team, is now suiting up, playing solid minutes, and putting up solid scoring numbers for Southeast Missouri State. In fact, almost every player from last
year’s 22-9 squad committed to and moved on to play at a four-year university this past spring. That means that now the Howard Hawks will have almost a completely different team than the one that hit the hardwood last winter. They will be versatile this season with good size and shooting ability. Both Raines and assistant coach Junsie Cotten have been working hard this offseason to put a strong team together so that they can compete in the extremely strong and daunting Region V. With all of that being said, let us take a look at who will be playing for the Hawks this season and what they bring to the court: AKENE AGEE – Brampton, Ontario Agee is an athletic 6-foot-4 guard who played his col-
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lege ball last year at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas. He started just one game but played in 27 while averaging 4.7 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high 21 points against Cowley and totaled four games of double-digit points scored for the T-Birds. Agee will be a sophomore this season and will be battling with a strong group of guards for solid playing time in the rotation. JACOBY BISHOP – New Waverly, TX Bishop will be a true freshman fresh off of an 18 pointper-game season while at Coldspring-Oakhurst High School. He is a 6-foot-0 combo guard that distributes the ball well and has a knack for finding the open man. He averaged 7.0 assists per game while playing for the Trojans and that strong facilitating ability should help the Hawks at some points over the next season. Just like Agee, Bishop will have his work cut out for him at earning minutes with a crowded backcourt. GREG DURAND – Sheffield, England Durand is a 20-year-old wing from Great Britain with great size (6-foot-5) and scoring ability. He played in 11 games last year for Charnwood College in England and averaged 14.1 points per game. Durand had both a high field goal percentage (47.0) and three-point percentage (34.3) while also producing as a force on the boards by grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game. He will also be playing alongside his Charnwood teammate Blaize Sagna in Big Spring and both Raines and Cotten are excited about Durand’s potential. LAMAR EVERD – Winnipeg, CN Everd played last year at Paris Junior College in East Texas and will be making the move west to Big Spring to join the Hawks. He averaged 11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game last year for the Dragons and scored a seasonhigh 34 points against Kilgore late in the season. Everd appeared to get stronger as the season went along last year and he will look to continue that momentum into the his sophomore year at Howard. DARRELL GREEN – Baltimore, MD Green is one of two returning Hawks from the 2020 team and he will look to use that as a springboard towards the starting lineup. Green played very well at points last year in a crowded guard room and played his best ball at the end of the season. In fact, Green’s two highestscoring games of his freshman season came in the last four games of the season for Howard. Overall, Green averaged 5.0 points per game with a high field goal percentage (47.9) and staggering three-point
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percentage (44.3) while coming off the bench. MARKO JOKSIMOVIC – Berane, Montenegro Joksimovic will make the move to Howard College after playing in 2019-20 for KK Beko Beograd in Serbia. He has played in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and will bring good size to the Howard lineup. GERMAN KASANZI OBAMA – Alcala de Henares, Spain Kasanzi Obama played for Navarro College last year and appeared in 25 games while averaging 10.2 points per game. He totaled 15 games with double-digit points scored and seemed to find the basket often every time that he hit the hardwood. He scored a season-high 23 points against Tyler last year but had plenty of games where he led his team in scoring. He is a guard with good size (6-foot-4) that is more likely to score than he is to distribute the ball around (0.9 assists per game last year). ZACHERY MACKSON – Atlanta, GA Mackson is another transfer that will be fighting for playing time this season. He put together a very strong season last year while playing for Bishop State in Mobile, Alabama. Mackson averaged 13.9 points per game and shot an extremely high percentage from the floor (66.7). He scored a season-high of 37 points and totaled four games with over 20 points. He was a consistent starter for the Wildcats and Mackson will surely be battling to fill a starting role again this year. NOAH MASON – Humble, TX Mason is a big-bodied forward out of Atascocita High
School in Humble, Texas. Mason will provide muchneeded size for the Hawks. Size on the interior was an issue for Howard last year and Raines is hoping that the addition of Mason will help alleviate that issue. MO MUSA – Amarillo, TX Musa is the second of two returning Howard players from last year’s team. He most often served as a situational defensive player that was quick to force a turnover. His season-high in points scored was nine (twice) and Musa has been working hard this offseason to earn more time on the court. BLAIZE SAGNA – London, England Sagna is an athletic guard that was considered the top prospect coming out of England. He has played the last two seasons for Charnwood and averaged 22.8 points per game last season. He also averaged 7.8 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game. The year before, his numbers were not quite as strong, which is a strong indication that Sagna is still improving and has not reached his full potential. The 6-foot-1 guard will most likely be one of the starting guards for the Hawks during the upcoming season and Raines will rely on him to run the offense. SAMI SANAD – Cervignano, Italy Sanad played alongside Agee last season at Cloud County Community College. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in 29 games played. He will be one of the forces for Howard on the low block during this next season and could play good minutes if he proves himself as a consistent strong front-court player. RODNEY SMITH – Atlanta, GA Smith played last season at Pensacola State and averaged 7.8 points per game. He was forced to play out of position and he believes that the versatile Howard system will help him produce. Smith will now step into a competitive environment with a group of very strong guards that will all be vying for playing time. BONAVENTURE UDOH – Amarillo, TX Udoh spend last year at Wayland Baptist and will be making the switch to Howard in January. He was the leader for Amarillo Palo Duro back in 2019 and adds another versatile and dynamic member to the 2021 Hawks’ roster. D’MARI WILTZ – New Orleans, LA Wiltz is an athletic point guard with a competitive streak and the ability to both score and facilitate the ball for his teammates. He will be joining Howard straight out of high school where he starred at St. Augustine High School. His team finished the
last two seasons as the Louisiana state Runner-Up and Wiltz was a driving force behind the team’s success. Now, he will join the Hawks as a true freshman with all of the tools to be a great player. “We had a really good read on him and he fits exactly what we’re looking for,” Raines said. “He’s a really talented attack-the-basket type of player who can play with the ball in his hands and we really liked his competitiveness and toughness.” Overall, this appears to be one of the most talented teams of Raines’ tenure at Howard with an extremely strong, deep, and versatile backcourt. The Howard coaches have spent countless hours recruiting these players and assembling a roster full of ballers from around the world. Next, we will see how all of those players mesh together quickly and then we shall find out just how impressive the 2021 Howard Hawks are.
Living Magazine
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