Malina Howard

Position: Forward/Center
Height: 6-4 • 194 cms
Weight: 205 lbs • 93 kgs
School: Twinsburg High School ‘12
Hometown: Twinsburg, Ohio

USA Basketball Notes:

• Gold Medal: 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.
• Named to the 2011 USA U19 World Championship Team on July 10, 2011.
• Member of the 2010 USA Basketball U18 National Team that compiled a perfect 5-0, earned the 2010 FIBA Americas Championship gold medal and qualified the USA for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship; started all five games and averaged 6.8 ppg. and 5.8 rpg.
• Particpated in the 2009 USA Basketball U16 National Team Trials.

High School Honors:

• USA Today All-USA first team (2011).
• All-Ohio Division I first team (2011).
• Cleveland Plain Dealer Player of the Year (2011).
• Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division Player of the Year (2011).
• All-Northeast Inland Division I first team (2011).
• 2010 ESPN Rise Underclass All-American (2010).
• Cleveland Plain Dealer and Northeast Ohio All-Star first team (2010).
• Northeast Ohio Conference (NOC) Valley Division Player of the Year (2011).
• The Associated Press Northeast Ohio Inland District I Player of the Year (2009, 2010 [shared award]).
• A.P. All-Ohio first team (2009, 2010, 2011).
• Miss Ohio Basketball (2011) and twice was a Miss Basketball finalist (2009, 2010).
• Tri-County Player of the Year (2011).
• Tri-County Coaches Association Underclassman of the Year (2009).
• Cleveland Plain Dealer's 2009 Hardcourt Hero.

High School Notes:

• Attends Twinsburg High School (Ohio), where she currently lists as her school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,377 points in three years; also has amassed 923 rebounds, 185 assists, 195 steals and 277 blocked shots.
• As a junior in 2010-11, averaged 19.6 ppg., 10.6 rpg. and 2.0 bpg. in helping the Tigers to Twinsburg’s first state championship and a perfect 27-0 record.
• As a sophomore in 2009-10, started in all 25 games played and averaged 18.3 ppg., 10.2 rpg., 3.5 spg. and 5.0 bpg. to help her team to a 23-2 record and the state quarterfinals; shot 59.0 percent from the field.
• As a freshman in 2008-09, started in all 24 games played and averaged 16.2 ppg., 15.9 rpg., 3.4 apg., 2.7 spg. and 4.1 bpg. to help Twinsburg to a 20-4 record and the first district championship in school history.
• Lists career bests of 39 points, 20 rebounds and nine blocks.
• Has played in the summers for Sports City U since 2008.
• Also plays volleyball.

Personal:

• Born Malina Ann Howard in Warren, Ohio, on Nov. 20, 1993.
• Daughter of Melodi and Ron Howard; has three sisters, Dara, Danielle and Marisa.
• Sister, Danielle, was a track & field athlete at Stony Brook University.
• Is a member of the National Honor Society.

The Inside Scoop:

• Has post-basketball ambitions of: becoming a physical therapist or a coach.
  
• Last book read for pleasure: “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte.
  
• Favorite class: math.
  
• Least favorite class: history.
  
• Is learning: Spanish.
  
• Favorite takeout food: Chinese: chicken and broccoli.
  
• Favorite meal to make at home: chicken alfredo.
  
• If not for basketball, would want to excel at: gymnastics.
  
• When she was five, wanted to be: a gymnast.
  
• If she could live in any city, it would be: Sydney.
  
• Next big purchase will be: a new laptop.
  
• Favorite magazine: ESPN Rise.
  
• Favorite piece of clothing: basketball shorts.
  
• Most prized possession: her cell phone.
  
• Favorite sport other than basketball: gymnastics.
  
• Favorite basketball player of all time: Marissa Coleman.
  
• Favorite non-basketball Olympians: Shawn Johnson and Michael Phelps.
  
• Strangest place ever played basketball: in an old warehouse.
  
• Wants to go one-on-one against: Dwight Howard.
  
• Most impressive person ever met: Michael Phelps, because “he is a supreme athlete.”
  
• Away from the court, enjoys: being with her teammates.
  
• Most people don’t know: she’s afraid of the dark.
  
• Most interesting place ever visited: Pikes Peak, she was afraid of heights, but able to overcome it somewhat.
  
• This left-hander wears No. 5 because: she admires Shanna Zolman.
  
• Superstitious about: putting on her left shoe before all her games and wears the same undergarments the entire season (washed between games), unless her team loses.

USA Basketball Statistics