Third in a series.
Part 2 - New Faces: Newberns on the Block (November 29, 2018)
Part 1 - New Faces: MSUB Women's Soccer Freshman Cassidy O'Dell (Sept. 12, 2018)

MSUB SPORTS – From a legacy of Montana State University basketball players, Brendan Howard has grown up playing basketball his entire life. From the age of four, Howard learned the love for basketball. With both parents being MSU alums, and having played for MSU, basketball is in his genes. Howard dabbled in other sports but nothing compared to basketball. In his sixth grade year, Howard knew he wanted to play basketball as long as he could.
 
"Basketball is a skill based sport," said the Great Falls native. "You have to put in the time and effort if you want to do well. That's why I love it so much."
 
Howard proved himself a dedicated player time and time again in his career at Great Falls High School. He is one of Montana's most decorated players in history as a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, two-time USA Today All-USA Montana Player of the Year and named Mr. Basketball in the Treasure State. He scored 2,083 points in his career with the Bison becoming the first player ever to score 2,000 points at the AA level. The total broke Great Falls High School's record of 1,581 points. Not only a serious competitor on the court, but off the court as well, Howard graduated high school with a GPA of a 3.71.
 
Stepping up to the collegiate level, Howard was a redshirt freshman at Eastern Washington University, an NCAA Division I school during the 2017-18 season.
 
"Being a redshirt my first year was frustrating, but it built up the anticipation to play once I had the opportunity," Howard reflected on spending last year at EWU. "I knew my time would come."
 
After being at Eastern Washington for a year, Howard decided he wanted to be closer to home. His brother, Bobby Howard, and family friend, Mick Durham, both accepted coaching positions for the MSUB basketball team for the 2018-2019 school year. The pieces began to fall into place when Brendan approached Coach Durham and asked if he could join his team for the upcoming season. Durham knew it was finally time for Brendan Howard to prove himself on the court once again.
 
A year away from competing on the court didn't impact Howard's abilities, as he has established himself as one of the Yellowjackets' most productive players this season. Entering this weekend's games at Alterowitz Gym, Howard ranks third on the squad with 13.8 points per game. He has reached double figures in 13 of 16 games played overall, and over the last four games he is scoring at a clip of 15.7 points per game.
 
His season high of 22 points came on November 14 against the University of Mary, when he connected on 10 of 22 shots from the floor in 28 minutes. In last Saturday's triple-overtime thriller at Simon Fraser, he was one off that total with 21. "He's got a hunger to be as good as he can," Durham boasted about the strong player Howard is, "which shows on and off the court."
 
Considering his family's rich history of success in basketball, it's not surprising that it has carried over to the latest star player named Howard. Though she didn't bear the last name Howard at the time, Brendan's mother Kathleen was an All-American at Montana State and still stands as the Bobcats' all-time leading scorer with 1,761 points from 1982-86.
 
The university and basketball brought his parents together, as Brendan's father Bob also competed for the Bobcats in the early 1980s. His brother and now coach Bobby scored 1,366 points at MSU, ranking No. 14 in school history, and hit 160 threes which is eighth-most.
 
"I went to school with Bob and remember watching Brendan's mother, Kathleen, play," said Durham, who coached for the 'Cats. "Brendan and Bobby definitely acquired the same drive for success from their parents."
 
Coach Durham was the head coach at University of Alaska Fairbanks for seven years, four of those alongside his assistant coach, Bobby Howard. Strategizing on building a new team for MSUB was tough but bringing Brendan on was an easy decision for both Coach Durham and Coach Howard.
 
"He's a coach's kid," said Durham. "He has a hunger and a drive to do better and be better. You don't have to worry about his level of effort."
 
Being coached by his brother came naturally for Brendan because Bobby has very similar coaching techniques as their father. Brendan's father coached him from kindergarten through high school. So, being coached by his brother was hardly any different.
 
"My brother always helped me with basketball growing up so this feels no different," Brendan commented on his relationship with his brother being his coach at the collegiate level. "He's always been hard on me but it motivates me to be better."
 
Chances are the Howard legacy will carry on for the next four years during his time as a Yellowjacket. Not only will Brendan carry out this legacy, but his older brother will too for many more years to come while coaching and redefining Yellowjacket basketball.
 
Unfortunately, college won't last forever and that means basketball won't either for some. However, even if Howard doesn't make it to the pros, he still wants to stay in the realm of basketball as trainer. He is studying health and human performance at MSUB to help others work on special techniques in different sports.
 
But for now, the midway point of the season is approaching and both Brendan and his team are preparing to make it to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. MSUB (9-7, 4-4 GNAC) is next in action at Alterowitz Gym on January 24-26, hosting No. 23 Saint Martin's University and Seattle Pacific University.