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“When I first met Zach he was a freshman, and we played him on Varsity,” said Fightin Irish head coach Denny Hunt.
Even as a freshman, Zach Howell made an impact on a very talented Springfield Catholic team.
“He came off the bench and people didn’t realize that he could make baskets and he did,” Hunt said.
“I think at most schools I’d be starting as a freshman, but I think since we had such a good group of guys that I was coming off the bench,” said Howell.
That year the Irish finished second at the state tournament. Zach had 10 points off the bench.
“Well, at that point peopole just called him a shooter, and he definitely now, as he’s developed, he’s more than that. And that’s what really helps us,” said Hunt.
Zach averaged 7 points a game his freshman year, 19 as a sophomore, and now in his junior season Zach’s averaging 26 points and 10 rebounds a game.
“My biggest asset is coming off screens and reading them, but I wouldn’t say I have any type of signature move or anything,” Howell said.
In the 85-year-history of Fightin Irish basketball, his 1,130 points rank him eighth all time, and he’s still got a year and a half to play.
“If a guy can play hard like he does, and can post up, and can get to the rim, and can also knock it down from the outside, that’s a great weapon,” said Hunt.
“It’s definitely a cool thing, but I just try to focus more on team stuff and what we do as a collective group of guys,” Howell said.
While he continues to improve himself, he’s focusing on the big picture.
“As a team I think we’re kind of overlooked a little bit, and I think that we’re going to continue to keep getting better and better, then I think we’ll be ready when February and March comes,” Howell said.
