Dwight Howard News...

Howard Reaches Out On Home Ground

Orlando Magic rookie brings star power to summer camp

By JOHN MANASSO

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Grant Hill asked for a volunteer.

When the Orlando Magic forward explained he wanted someone to answer his question, "What is the importance of education?" more than half the hands of the 120 campers went down at the Howard and Howard Basketball Camp at Douglass High School in Southwest Atlanta.

But not the hand of 11-year-old London Thompson. Thompson stood up with Hill and answered, "To be smart and get a job."

With that, Hill peeled off a $100 bill and handed it Thompson, who sat back down on Wednesday. The hands in the crowd went up with wild yearning after that, as Hill said he had four more $100 bills.

But then he praised Thompson's bravery and handed him the other four bills.

"As you can see, I think education is important," Hill told the campers.

Hill was the guest of his Magic teammate Dwight Howard, the 19-year-old Atlanta native, who is co-running the camp this week with his father Dwight Sr. After inviting Hill to speak Wednesday, Magic Johnson will speak Thursday.

Howard, who seemed to be on a first name basis with many of the campers, said the camp is his way of giving back to the community.

"Most of these kids went to my high school or I played against some of those kids," he said. "They were probably freshman or sophomores when I was a senior.

"There was nothing like this when I was 13 or 14, even younger than that. They have an opportunity to come to a camp where they can hear NBA guys speak. I'm just happy that this week is going good."

On Wednesday it was going well in part because Hill, whom Howard says is like his big brother, kept his talk lively. After making young Thompson $500 richer, he played a game of one-on-one with camp counselor Mike Banks, a former teammate of Howard's at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy who plays at Lee University in Cleveland , Tenn.

Hill told those who thought he was going to win to sit on the right side of the gym. The losing side, he said, would have to do 33 push-ups - his number.

Banks, giving away several inches, won the game to five. Hill instructed everyone on his side of the gym - including Howard, his father, his uncle, Paul, the Fulton County District Attorney, the Charlotte Hornets' J.R. Smith and Channel 2's Bill Hartman - to do the push-ups.

So did Hill lose that game on purpose?

"He was just playing around," Howard said. "Taking it easy on the young fella."

Did Howard do all of his push-ups?

"Yeah. It was light."

Howard said he has kept up a busy schedule this summer and this is first week in either Atlanta or Orlando . His Magic team went 4-2 at Rocky Mountain Revue, the NBA's summer league for young players.

When he turned professional last year, Howard said he would pursue his education at University of North Carolina . However, hasn't started classes but intends to "in the near future."

He said it's not anything his father, a former member of the Georgia Highway Patrol, gives him a hard time about.

"Not really," Howard said. "He's knows my busy schedule. I do a lot of stuff for the community making the NBA look good."

NBA Future:
Xavier Henry
Xavier Henry is the younger brother of C.J. Henry, the 17th pick in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by the New York Yankees. Xavier Henry is a 6-foot-6 and weighing 205 pounds guard. Xavier Henry was committed to Kansas as a senior in High School.

Other Super Star Sites

Greg Oden Online.com: Website devoted to Greg Oden and he future accomplishments. You can read Greg Oden Biography, as well as Greg Oden Stats.

Los Angeles Dodgers: You can check out Dodger Stadium information, the LA Dodgers schedule as well as the Dodgers History.

CalvinHaynesOnline.com: Calvin Haynes (6-foot-2/185 pounds/Reseda, Calif./Taft HS) - Averaged 22.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a junior, helping Taft to a 22-5 record

Los Angeles Lakers Online: You can find Los Angeles Lakers History, Los Angeles Lakers History and Los Angeles Lakers Gallery information.

Oakland Raiders Online is dedicated to the Oakland Raiders and all of thier players.

Please note we do not accept advertising.If you write an article or help us out we will gladly place your link on our site. Please dont ask us about advertising with us becasue we dont do allow advertising.