INTERVIEW: Richard Howell Working Towards NBA Dream

*This is the first of many posts by our newest writer here at PackInsider.com, Ethan Joyce. He will be covering all of the former Pack players in the NBA D-League and providing updates and interviews as they chase their dream of making a NBA roster.

Richard Howell can pinpoint the moment that led him to where he is today: Nov. 18, 2012, when Howell was a senior on a Wolfpack team ranked No. 6 in the nation.

On that day, N.C. State lost at home to Oklahoma State and super-freshman Marcus Smart, 76-56. That loss indicated to Howell that the dream season could be in turmoil.

“I felt like that was one of the eye-openers for me because we came out flat,” Howell said. “And then, the body tone of my teammates after the game [was not good].”

The Pack’s season failed to gain traction after that loss, tumbling out of the national rankings and depreciating the individual accolades Howell achieved—averaging a double-double, leading the ACC in rebounds, first-team All-ACC Honors.

Now, the 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward is a rookie in the N.B.A. Development League with the Idaho Stampede. Going undrafted was a direct effect of his disappointing senior year. But instead of dwelling on it, Howell said he wants to put his head down and work.

“I won’t say that I was hurt [to go undrafted],” Howell said. “I just kind of used it as motivation and dedication to just go out and prove the people who passed up on me wrong.”

Doug Lipscomb, Howell’s coach at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., said that having dedication was never a problem for Howell.

“He is a competitor, and he is going to work hard every day,” Lipscomb said. “When he comes into the gym, he comes in to compete.”

Howell hopes to benefit from the professional lifestyle; with no more classes to attend and student functions to participate in, he can spend all his time on basketball.

It seems to be panning out for Howell so far: through his first eight games of the season, Howell started all of them, averaging 20.9 points and 12.8 rebounds a game, for an 8-0 team that began the season on an eight-game road trip.

Though he says the stats are great, Howell is more excited about the effect the road trip had on the Stampede.

“I felt like it definitely helped us gel even more,” Howell said. “I really feel that is the whole thing about this team; the chemistry is just off the charts.

The Stampede is the D-League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers. Howell spent training camp with the Blazers, giving him more time to learn the team’s playbook (the same playbook the Stampede uses).

Though he did not impress the Blazer’s execs enough to warrant a contract, Howell said they hinted that he might have a shot. He says that the Stampede’s hot start has definitely improved his case.

“I am just keeping my head right. I knew that it would be hard for me to make the Trail Blazer’s roster, but they also told me if I continued doing what I was doing . . . then I have a great shot of going to a team,” Howell said. “So my main thing right now is just wanting to win ball games.

“I feel like what I am doing right now is definitely putting us in position, but also what my teams are doing, they are setting me up well.”

But he still has plenty to work on. He’d like to be a better jump shooter. He wants to tighten up his ball handling. He hopes to improve so much that people aren’t surprised by his ability—they will expect great performances.

Until then, he ‘s going to keep producing on the court, keep waking up at 9 a.m. to work out an hour or two before practice starts, and keep staying afterward to shoot around with those teammates who are devoted enough.

But one thing is certain: Howell never wants to be as disappointed as he was last season, and he is going to do whatever he can to keep it that way.