pic credit: Zibart.de

Whenever I come across my name somewhere, I always take notice. I mean the name Miles is simply not a common name. I have come across my own name about 5 times in my life. I remember interviewing American baller Miles Mallory when he was playing his rookie season in Germany with the Seeburg College Wizards Karlsruhe (Germany-Regionalliga) back in the 2023-2024 season. Recently I was observing social media and saw a nasty poster dunk, but it wasn´t the usual NBA video of a Victor Wembanyama or Anthony Edwards one, but from a German-American player named Myles Howell who is balling in the second Regionalliga for the Baskets Limburg. The dunk was addicting and I had to watch it over and over. Then I saw his name Myles in the link which added that extra interest. I mean my name doesn´t always have to be spelled Miles, but Myles is just as nice. Has he ever come across the name Miles in his life? “At first when you texted me I thought you had mixed up names. It was really unusual coming across another person with my name even if one letter is different. I have heard people that have our name, but you are the first person I have met with the same name”, stated Myles Howell (190-G-2005) His lethal dunk reminded me a bit of a young Henning Harnisch flying through the air as he destroyed the rim. Was the pulsating poster in Limburg his best dunk in his career? “I wouldn´t say it was my best in my career but top 5 for sure. I remember having some nice dunks when I was 15 or 16. I remember having 2 poster dunks at a 3 X3 tournament and one of them was really great”, stressed Myles Howell

pic credit: Zibart.de

Myles Howell who lists Hannes Steinbach, Phil Flowers, Tom Arkan and Dusan Nikolic as his toughest foes so far in his basketball career was born on September 26th, 2005. At first look at his name, one would think another American playing in the Regionalliga 2, but after inspection of his Eurobasket profile, there was a German flag next to his nationality. How does a German have such an English name? His dad is American and mother German which is where the hook is. His Dad is from the Atlanta area from Stockridge and mother is from Friedberg. His parents met in Friedberg when his dad was stationed in Friedberg serving the American army. Myles also lived in the States and in Spain. He began his basketball career in Friedberg and then played 3 seasons in Hanau. He played in the NBBL (U-19) and Regionalliga. “Before moving to play in Hanau basketball was easy for me. I didn´t have to think a lot. Hanau was a higher league and I needed more preparation. I had one of the best coaches in my career with Marti Zamora-Mas. He understood basketball 100%. Whatever he said always made so much sense. He was a genius”, warned Myles Howell In his first season as a teenager he averaged 4/2/1 stats in 16 minutes and had some great teammates with veteran Cedric Quarshie and young German Luca Eibelshauser playing in the Pro B now for TV Langen. Were they like early mentors for him? “Cedric definitely was. He taught me to always give 100%. Other vital teammates at that time were Tom Arkan who taught me that you don´t have to be the fastest but just have your own controlled tempo and Valentin Konstantinov was a big who taught me to play with my head”, remembered Myles Howell

Myles Howell guarding NBA prospect Hannes Steinbach

The athletic forward who lists Justin Stallbohm, Tom Arkan, Phil Flowers, Elijah Allen and Valentin Konstantinov as his 5 best teammates of all-time decided for a change in 2024 when he signed with Regionalliga team Baskets Limburg. When the Hanau organization folded, he looked for a new challenge. He had had some training sessions with former pro A player Elijah Allen and he then performed at an open gym in Limburg and head coach Danny Stallbohm saw his play and the rest is history. The first season was tough as he had a long 2 hour train commute from Friedberg to Limburg. Plus he wasn´t integrated that well yet. However in his second season has been a lot better. He has built nice relationships and has found a role on the court. “I play the 3, but can also play the 4. I´m the fastest on the team. I am more off ball on offense and love to run transition and guard the other team´s best player”, stated Myles Howell He has found a good coach with Danny Stallbohm who gives him something every player always wants on the court. “Coach is old school. Every coach has their own philosophy. It is different but something that I have gotten used to. But he gives me a lot of freedom which I like. If you give 100% on the court and show that you want it more than the opponent, then you get minutes”, added Myles Howell He also has the ultimate teammate with Justin Stallbohm who is the team captain and has one of the most infectious smiles ever seen in Limburg. “Justin is very positive and always upbeat and a funny guy. He is the oldest on the team which is very unusual for him. He has a lot of experience. Even if he isn´t looking at you, he always finds you on the court. I always know I will get the ball. He gives good advice as well”, commented Myles Howell

pic credit: Zibart.de

So what kind of game does the young man have who lists his NBA Mount Rushmore with Steph Curry, Lebron James, Anthony Edwards, Wemby and Jokic, his Euroleague Mount Rushmore with Alperen Sengun, Mike James, Giannis, Kemba Walker and Kendrick Nunn and German Mount Rushmore with Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroeder, Dirk Nowitzki, Andi Obst and Isaac Bonga is a player that has difficulty comparing his game to someone else. His mom always tells him to be the fastest and give the most energy on the court. He enjoys watching videos of NBA players Marcus Smart and Kawhi Leonard. His speed is his biggest strength that helps him at both ends of the court. “I have a long wing span that really helps me on defense to get steals. Opponents tend to underestimate my length. My jumping ability also helps me and I have good endurance which allows me to hold up the tempo for a very long time”, stressed Myles Howell His athleticism also plays a big role in his game which he proved the other night with his poster dunk against Kronberg. “My athleticism was always there. I trained my athleticism a lot when I was 15-16 and got injured. Doing that made me prone for injuries so I decided not to train my athleticism as much the last years with the fear of getting injured again. But I have noticed that I haven´t lost any of my athleticism with less training”, expressed Myles Howell He obviously wants to keep climbing the basketball ladder and knows what part of his game is at most suspect at the moment. “I grew quickly when I was younger. I was a big and didn´t have to shoot as much so I didn´t work on my shot as much. Now I need to work on my shot if I want to become more effective”, said Myles Howell When he isn´t flying through the air and finishing with authority on the basketball court, he is studying electric machine construction and also is giving back and helping the youth as a U-14 basketball coach. But he still has a goal as basketball player. “I want to be able to play at the highest level”, warned Myles Howell One thing is for sure, it is always worth a trip to Limburg to see the crazy athleticism that Myles Howell possesses.