howard attended pasco high school for three years. he practiced football, basketball and track for pasco high school. as a senior, howard averaged 23.7 points per game, while leading the basketball squad to a 25-1 record, with the 51-53 loss coming in the state championship game to snohomish high school in overtime. he was a high school all-american in basketball and all-conference in football as a tight end (he also played defensive back).