Ex-WiIdcat Shapes Up for N.C. State

alum Richard Howell is hoping less of him will make a bigger impact on the N.C. State basketball team this season.

Howell, a star for Wheeler’s 2009 state AAAAA championship team, announced at the Wolfpack’s preseason media day Wednesday that he slimmed down from 270 to 251 pounds over the summer with a new diet and workout routine.

Among other changes, he cut out fried foods, candy and soda.

“It was definitely hard,” Howell said. “When you eat your favorite food every day, it’s definitely hard.”

But the former Wildcat said he has more energy, stamina and quickness heading into this season.

Those improvements are important in new coach Mark Gottfried’s system, Howell said. “We want to get up and down the court as much as possible.”

N.C. State appears to see the junior forward as a key part of the team after two seasons as a backup:

• Howell is the one player featured in a press conference video after Gottfried; his segment starts at about the 8:45 mark.
• Howell is the first player shown on N.C. State’s video of player interviews, which you can access by clicking on “Audio/Video” on the basketball team’s home page.
• Howell is the focus of an Associated Press feature story, in which Gottfried praises the junior’s dedication to be a better player.

The Wolfpack starts practice Friday. You can catch Howell on the court Feb. 9 when N.C. State plays at Georgia Tech.