Crystal Howard

[mwwbbfan]

I noticed Crystal Howard of MU did not play in the last two game, is no longer listed on the roster on their web site and has an 'x' next to her name on the stats. Does anyone have the scoop on her leaving? Isn't this the second freshman to leave Mizzou already this year? (Brittany Manning)

Thanks for any response. :confused:

[Row6Seat10]

Thanks for joining in mwwbbfan and feel free to post often; the more Tiger fans on this forum the better. Anyway, I'm guessing you're a Tiger fan.

This surprised me, I thought she was talented enough to earn a starting spot say maybe next year. Might be a while before anyone knows why she pulled up her stakes. I seen her play in high school and she was a very good ball player.

This is an blurb from the Missourian:
Freshman guard Crystal Howard, who is from Omaha, Neb., was not listed on the Missouri roster for Sunday’s game against Saint Louis. Kevin Fletcher, from the MU media relations department would not say why Howard has left. Howard played in nine games for the Tigers, starting in two. She played 19.9 minutes per game and was averaging 5.2 points. Howard is the second player to leave the program this season. On Dec. 9, freshman Brittany Mannings left the team for family reasons.

The Columbia Daily Tribune says: Howard left for personal reasons.

http://www.showmenews.com/2005/Jan/20050103Spor002.asp

[thereisnoplacelikenebrask]

From Tuesday's Omaha World Herald
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=38&u_sid=1300404

Howard quits MU; wants to be closer to home

BY MIKE PATTERSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Crystal Howard, one of the most heavily recruited girls basketball players ever in Nebraska, has had a change of heart about her college decision.

The Omaha Central graduate has left the Missouri basketball team and hopes to transfer to a school closer to home. Kevin Fletcher, assistant director of media relations at Missouri, confirmed that Howard is no longer on the squad.

A person close to the situation said Howard was homesick and withdrew from the university last Friday. She played in nine of the Tigers' 11 games but is not listed on the team roster on the school's website.

Howard's family declined comment Monday.

The 5-foot-10 guard was a four-year starter for the Eagles, leading them to two state tournament appearances. She averaged 14 points as a freshman, 16.2 as a sophomore, 17.5 points during an injury-shortened junior year and 17.8 points as a senior.

She finished her high school career with 1,061 points and was named first-team all-state last year.

In nine games at Missouri, she started twice while averaging six points.

Missouri won an intense recruiting battle for Howard, edging out finalists Nebraska and the University of Cincinnati. She was recruited to the Tigers by former Creighton standout Tanya Warren, a Missouri assistant at the time.

Warren is now the associate head coach for the Bluejays.
****
Hmmmmmm think we'll be seeing her in Creighton Blue?

[pawball]

Wow, Howard was pretty impressive in her game against SMS. Thot of her as a bright light in MU's future.

[bigred]

Why would any team gamble on a kid with a bad track record??

She stiffed NU at the last minute for MU, and now she, la-de-dah, leaves MU.

Duh, anyone see a patten here?

Go ahead Creighton, be my guest.

[thereisnoplacelikenebrask]

Why would any team gamble on a kid with a bad track record??

She stiffed NU at the last minute for MU, and now she, la-de-dah, leaves MU.

Duh, anyone see a patten here?

Go ahead Creighton, be my guest.


Well if she really was "homesick" for Omaha and since Tonya Warren (the coach who recruited her) is now at Creighton - I just wouldn't be surprised to see her try to get a spot with the Jays. And one of Creighton's recruits (Herring of Bell West) is out this season with an ACL. Jays may want to add another player?

[Skerfan]

With TK LaFleur and Louise Maclean starting school next fall and Heather likely to be back in the rotation as a sophomore, it's not likely that Coach Yori will be looking to add Howard at this point - especially if Howard has an attitude and Coach really got burned on Howard once like BigRed indicated.

Coach Stein's got to be pretty disappointed with two quality freshman leaving. Makes it tough to build for the future when the kids don't stay.

[Gummy]

From Coach Stein's comments on her radio show, I don't think attitude had anything to do with it. She's a good kid, loved Missouri and the players; she just wanted to be closer to home.

[Row6Seat10]

Howard lands close to home with Lady Reivers

BY MIKE PATTERSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

It's not every day that they hold a press conference at Iowa Western Community College to announce a new player.

Then again, it's not every day the Lady Reivers add someone like Crystal Howard.

The 5-foot-9 guard made it official Monday by telling reporters she would play at Iowa Western. She will practice with the Lady Reivers this season and play for them next season.

Howard, an all-state player at Omaha Central, originally had accepted a scholarship to play at Missouri. But the freshman left the Tigers last month after just nine games.

"It just wasn't a good fit for me down there," she said. "I realized that I'd made a mistake because I wanted to play closer to home."

By transferring to another Division I school, Howard would have been forced to sit out two semesters. Iowa Western will provide her the opportunity to practice this year and play next year before returning to Division I.

"They've got a good program here," Howard said. "I'm looking forward to being part of it and making a contribution."

The Lady Reivers are 14-3 and ranked 15th in the latest national junior college poll.

"Crystal is a very exciting and athletic player," said Iowa Western Coach Brett Meckley. "She will be an integral part of our plans for next season."

Meckley said Howard, who practiced with the team for the first time Sunday, already is making an impact.

"She won't just be going through the motions," he said. "She's going to work hard, and that's going to make our current players do the same."

One of those current players, guard Chrelle George, said she welcomes the addition of Howard. George leads the nation in scoring, averaging 27.6 points per game.

"I can tell already that she can do some special things," George said. "It's great to have her here."

Howard was a four-year starter at Omaha Central, leading the Eagles to two state tournament appearances. She finished her high school career with 1,061 points and was named first-team all-Nebraska as a senior.

[YCN]

Something tells me that Howard will be a Bluejay for the 2006-2007 basketball season...

[ChipperF1]

It wouldn't be a bad thing for the Jays to get her. She'd add some sorely needed athleticism to CU, of course getting some usable size to help her out wouldn't hurt either.

Knowing some of Crystal's people, I'd like to address this particular issue

"especially if Howard has an attitude and Coach really got burned on Howard once like BigRed indicated.

The other side of the story is that Howard was courted by Nebraska somewhat, but Connie did say there were other target they were considering and there was no offer on the table when Crystal made her decision. No guns under the table, no subterfuge on either side.

As far as Crystal to Nebraska? She's not going there. The priority for this next recruiting period is interior. The guard play is pretty much set up. This team needs forwards and posts, preferbly people who actually like to rebound and play defense with desire.