Syracuse basketball recruit Frank Howard skips Jordan regional game

Brooklyn, N.Y. — Frank Howard stayed home in Maryland Friday, intent upon focusing on school work and preparing for his freshman basketball season at Syracuse.

Howard's name remained on the roster for the Jordan Brand regional game. Two of his future teammates, Moustapha Diagne and Tyler Lydon, played in that game. Howard's coach, Glenn Farello, said the 6-foot-5 guard from Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.) had been invited to six postseason all-star games and had turned down each one.

"Frank wasn't interested in playing in all-star games," said Farello. The Paul VI coach said Howard had declined to participate in the Jordan game "from the beginning."

"I'm really putting a lot of focus on getting ready for the next level," Howard said. "Don't think all-star games could benefit me that much right now."

Howard, too, said he "had a lot of school work I couldn't miss out on." That factored into his decision to stay home Friday.

Howard eased back into basketball this season after missing all of last year with a knee injury. Farello said Howard "is all good, health-wise."

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