Syracuse recruit Frank Howard's road to recovery continues this weekend at Mary Kline Classic

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Syracuse recruit Frank Howard, right, is pictured during a game in the 2012-13 season. Howard missed this past season due to a knee injury.

(Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

Syracuse, N.Y. — This past weekend in Minnesota, Syracuse recruit Frank Howard started feeling good about his surgically-repaired knee and the game of basketball again.

Howard tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last July. The injury forced Howard, a 6-foot-5 guard, to miss his entire junior season at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Va.

Over the past month or so, Howard had been dipping his toe in the water at various AAU events for Team Takeover. He traveled with his AAU team to an event in Sacramento in late April, but he didn't play. He played limited minutes in each of Team Takeover's games at the Nike EYBL session in Dallas on May 10-11. A week later in Hampton, Va., he saw about five minutes of action in one game.

Then this past weekend, Howard and Team Takeover went to Minneapolis for another Nike EYBL event.

"I had one game where I played more minutes than usual,'' Howard said. "I played about 15 to 19 minutes and I had 14 points and five rebounds. That game made me say, 'OK.' After that game, I was like, 'I can play.'''

Shortly after his performance in Minneapolis, Howard received a text message from Alex Kline, the director of the Mary Kline Classic high school all-star event.

"He asked me how my leg was doing,'' Howard said. "I said it was feeling better.''

Kline then extended Howard an invitation to play in the Mary Kline Classic's underclassmen game this Saturday at West Orange (N.J.) High School.

"He invited me last year but I wasn't able to go,'' Howard said. "I was excited to get another opportunity. It's a great event and it supports a great cause.''

Howard committed to Syracuse last month, choosing the Orange over offers from Ohio State, Virginia, Maryland, Georgetown and North Carolina State.

On Saturday, Howard will take his knee out for another spin on the road to recovery.

"Right now, I'm still trying to shake off the rust,'' Howard said Thursday night. "At first I could only play limited minutes. It's hard to get your rhythm back in limited minutes. That's one reason I'm playing in the Mary Kline Classic. I want to play and find my rhythm.''

Howard will join at least one and possibly two future Syracuse teammates in the Mary Kline Classic underclassmen game.

Malachi Richardson, a 6-5 shooting guard from Trenton Catholic Academy, is playing in the event for the second straight year.

Moustapha Diagne, a 6-9 forward from Sparta, N.J., is set to announce his college choice on Saturday. Diagne has reportedly narrowed his choices to Syracuse and Memphis.

Howard said he struggled in his first forays on the court, but he received some assurance from Syracuse assistant Adrian Autry.

"Coach Autry said not to worry,'' Howard said. "He went through it before. He said to expect the rust.''

But Howard said he's feeling better about his knee and his game and he's excited to be playing this Saturday.

"Physically, I feel great,'' he said. "The knee feels good. A little soreness, but I feel like I'm ready to go. I feel comfortable. I'm easing back into it. I feel great transitioning back into playing.''

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