Dwight Howard News...
Dwight Howard Shares Time and Money
 By: Tim Povtak, Orlando Sentinel
Dwight Howard just didn't want to leave. The Orlando Magic power forward was almost 90 minutes into a scheduled 30-minute stop at Lovell Elementary School in Apopka last week -- there to present a $15,000 check -- and he obviously lost track of time.
It was past the end of the normal school day. The teachers were restless, parents were waiting outside, and even the principal was getting a little antsy.
Dwight Howard just smiled and laughed and kept talking, entertaining the 30 kids who were enjoying his banter and peppering him with endless questions.
"How did you get so tall? What size shoe do you wear? How many shoes do you wear? What's your name again?"
Dwight Howard's ceremonial check presentation turned into a combination math lesson/reading lesson/religious sermon/comedy routine and a good old-fashioned "eat your vegetables, listen to your parents," lecture. A Magic staffer had brought handouts for the children, but Dwight Howard wouldn't give them away until each child individually answered one of his questions, proving they were learning something from his stop.
"You could tell Dwight Howard really had his heart into this," said Elvis Epps, assistant principal at Lovell. "We've had NBA people here before, but none of them seemed to enjoy it as much as he did."
Dwight Howard, 19, is about to embark on his second NBA season since the Magic made him the No. 1 pick of the 2004 NBA draft. He talked to the kids about taking on responsibility, but he could have been talking about himself.
"My responsibility as a player will grow this season. I'm pretty sure of that," he said after he finished with the children. "I'm looking forward to doing a lot more things this season. That's something I've been preparing for. I'm going to be a lot stronger physically."
Dwight Howard averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season, becoming the only player in NBA history to come directly from high school and start all 82 games as a rookie.
Although the Magic brought him along slowly last season, hardly including him in the offense, he expects that to change now under new Coach Brian Hill.
"Last year, we started fine, but we got sidetracked by some of the egos," he said. "This year is going to be totally different."
Around the Rim
Ex-NBA player and Coach John Lucas talked recently about working with Dennis Rodman. "I got some great advice from Chuck Daly," he told The Oregonian. "He said, 'No matter what Dennis does, just pretend you don't see it.' So I have that game in which Dennis takes his shoes off when he's on the bench, and everyone in the arena is looking at Dennis, then looking at me, and I'm standing there [whistling] and staring at the rafters, pretending I don't see it."
Hornets President Paul Mott said that although the devastation all around him in New Orleans makes his franchise seem insignificant, it's important that his team play at least part of this season in Louisiana. "Some people say it's just a game and it shouldn't matter, but its part of the spirit of the city. It would be a signal that the city is on its way back," he said.
The Magic continue to weigh several options when it comes to adding another front-court player, but Christian Laettner definitely remains on their list of free agent possibilities. Magic Assistant General Manager Otis Smith met recently with Laettner in North Florida .
A Final Thought: NBA training camps open in just about a month.
Tim Povtak can be reached at tpovtak@orlandosentinel.com.
NBA Future:
Demario Williams
DeMarioWilliams This jump-ball receiver has some great hands and concentration on the deep ball and willing to go over the middle for a catch. While he does have a tendency to jump for every ball, even when not necessary, he does show the ability to outleap defensive backs on a consistent basis. Could work on getting a little more separation, but shows a little burst of explosion trying to catch up with balls thrown a little long.
NBA Future:
Brandan Wright
Brandan Wright Brandan Wright is energetic rebounder and shot blocker who is a smooth offensive player. Gets better every year. Was the 6th man for the South which won gold at the USA Basketball Youth Festival. Attended Nike Camp. Led Brentwood to a 29-3 record and its third straight state title. Again won Mr. Basketball, this time averaging 20.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.4 blocked shots.
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