Women's Basketball Signs Coveted Forward Anriel Howard
Nov 12, 2014 | Women's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION- Texas A&M's women's basketball team announced the signing of two-time all-state selection in Georgia, Anriel Howard (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake HS) to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. Howard, a 6-0 forward, and rated at the 16th-best wing player by ESPN HoopGurlz in the 2015 class, will enroll at Texas A&M for the 2015-16 season.
Howard, a three-star ESPN HoopGurlz recruit, was is a two-time First Team All-Georgia selection, and was an All-Metro Atlanta selection by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club, the same organization that hands out the Naismith Award to the top collegiate player, in 2013-14.
“Anriel is the four player that we have been looking for to replace seniors Achiri Ade and Tavarsha Scott-Williams” said Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. “She plays with an energy level that fits perfectly into our defensive style of pressure.”
“Her speed and vertical jump are off the charts,” added Blair. “She is a Georgia state champion in the triple jump, and a tenacious defender and scorer on the basketball court.”
“We believe we have found the national gem of the 2015 class that will excel on and off the court,” said Blair. “Anriel encompasses what all coaches look for in a student athlete. She wants a life after basketball in communications and broadcasting, which will be enhanced be the on-campus resource of 12th Man Productions that will propel her into this career before leaving Aggieland.”
“Our staff has done a great job of finding young ladies who both fit our style of play and uphold the traditions and Core Values of Texas A&M,” said Blair.
Howard, who Dan Olson of ESPN's HoopGurlz said was “among the most intriguing prospects in the 2015 class,” has scored over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in the first three years of her high school career. She has averaged a double-double as a sophomore and a junior, and broke Westlake HS scoring record with 44 points against Langston Hughes.
Howard played AAU basketball for the Douglassville Lady Tigers.
In addition, Howard is a standout triple-jumper who won the 6A State Title in that event in 2014, with a jump of 39 feet, 11 inches. Howard contributed to two state championships for Westlake in track and field, in both 2013 and 2014.
She was named homecoming queen of Westlake High School, and is editor of the school yearbook.
2015 Texas A&M Women's Basketball Signing Class
Danni Williams – 5-10 – G – Clovis, N.M. (Clovis HS) – ESPN HoopGurlz 5-star recruit
Anriel Howard – 6-0 – F – Atlanta, Ga. (Westlake HS) – ESPN HoopGurlz 3-star recruit
