Howard Nabs DC Assault Forward

Ron Bailey, Publisher

September 23, 2008 – Last Saturday, 6’7”, 215 pound, senior forward Mike Phillips took an official visit to Howard University, making the short trip with his mother Kathy Phillips from their Fredericksburg, VA home to Georgia Avenue, Northwest, Washington, DC. During his visit, Phillips toured the venerable institution, “met with the coaches, looked at all the schools (within the university), and watched the game”.

Despite that contest being Florida A&M’s 51-24 gridiron pounding of the Bison, Phillips thoroughly enjoyed his visit, which wasn’t the first, as he shared “I had been there previously” at which time he played pickup at the school. His collective experiences at Howard led Mike to say Sunday “Howard is my first choice right now”, a determination informed by the school’s academic, athletic, and social footprints. “I’m going to make my decision in a week or so” he added.

Well, it didn’t take that long, as late Sunday night huddled with his mother, and reached the conclusion ‘Bisondom’ is for him; he will sign a letter of intent to enroll at Howard next year.

Phillips, here during his official visit, on Howard University: "I like the coach and team and everything academically they have what I'm looking for".

“It was the place for me” shared Phillips yesterday of what expedited his decision. “I was already leaning towards it and saw were everything was and got the feeling of how it would benefit me…I talked to my mom again and decided that’s the place for me”.

A 3.6 GPA student at Riverbend High School (VA) who plans to major in either a medical-related field or business, Mike indicated Howard bested “Elon, VMI, and St. Frances (PA)”. The latter also offered a scholarship, while VMI was visited, an experience the left him resolute not to attend that school.

On the court, Phillips is as hard working as in the classroom, having molded himself into a versatile frontcourt performer that was recruited to play both power and small forward. That work ethic allowed him to do something relatively rare, compete in an open tryout and walk on a DC Assault team; as one of the perennially strongest travel team crews on the East Coast, Assault rosters are typically invitation only.

Two years ago, we had an open tryout” recalled Assault’s General Manager, Damon Handon via telephone. “Mike came in and over the last two years he just worked his tail off”.

Phillips revealed much about himself when describing his Assault experience: “I had seen the team at tournaments. I was playing for Nova United at the time. I wanted to be on a top team, and ended up playing against a lot of good players…Being on DC Assault helped my basketball career by bolstering my confidence”.

An intelligent young guy with hoops skills and confidence will bode well at Howard, a school with a lively, diverse, student body, rigorous academic requirements, and resurgent basketball program.

“I’m really happy for Mike and his family” said Handon. “For him to get a scholarship, to a school like that, I think that’s what it’s all about”.

True words indeed. Congrats go out to Mike Phillips. That school up on Georgia Avenue just got stronger – a case of the rich getting richer.