BELOIT—All it takes to understand what exactly it is that Beloit Turner senior Zay Howard brings to the court is to watch his eyes.
As the 5-foot-11 point guard dribbles the ball down the court, his peepers are constantly surveying the scene. Howard will bark out directions, helping set his teammates up for the perfect play.
And then Howard puts his athletic footwork to use, cutting through defenders before, more often than not, finding a Trojan in the ideal spot. He dishes out an accurate pass and his teammate rewards his work by hitting a bucket.
It’s a complex procedure that Howard has made to look simple. And it’s what has helped him claim a slew of assist records for the Turner boys basketball team.
“Zay has been a pass-first guy since he came into high school,” head coach Ken Watkins said. “Even when he was a sophomore starting for us, he had a high assist total. He’s really been an unselfish guy and one that does a really nice job controlling the tempo. Whatever it takes to win, that’s what he’s willing to do.”
Howard currently has 440 career assists with one regular season matchup left and however many postseason games the Trojans can roll through. That number broke the program record of 395 that was held by D.J. Wash (2016-20). He broke the mark for most assists in a season as a junior with 164, which he reset this season with 181 and counting. Wash also held that record with 159 in 2020.
The senior also holds the record for most assists in a game when he dished out 15 against Edgerton last February. He had 14 against Lake Mills on this season on Feb. 7 to tie the second-place mark with Tim Blum.
“It’s a big accomplishment,” Howard said. “Everyone wants to break records, and records are meant to be broken. I feel really blessed to hold every assist record at Turner. But I just go out there and do what I have to do to win.”
Howard is first in the Rock Valley Rock Division with 7.9 assists per game after finishing first in the conference with 6.3 apg last season and second with four per game his sophomore season.
Howard’s combination of strength, speed and agility makes him a perfect player to drive downhill to the hoop. Defenders can’t slow him down or react quick enough to stop his shots.
“Zay is one of those guys that should get more recognition around the Rock Valley and maybe even the state,” senior teammate Tyshawn Teague-Johnson said. “He’s one of the quickest guards I’ve ever played with. He’s a heck of a scorer.
“His ability to run up the court and his vision — it’s just crazy. He’s the best point guard I’ve ever played with.”
Howard is averaging 17.4 points per game this season after scoring just over 10 points each game last year. He scored 34 points in a 70-53 win over Jefferson on Jan. 11 and scored 30 in a 70-62 loss to Mount Horeb on Feb. 3.
Which just makes Howard’s unselfish attitude even more admirable. He is fifth in scoring average in the RVRD but he could easily be cracking the top three.
Instead, the senior looks to make someone else the scorer first.
“Whatever coach wants, I’ll just do it,” Howard said. “My role is to pass the ball. I score from here and there, but mainly I emphasize pushing the ball, getting ahead and finding the open man, the rim runner or the trailer.”
Howard is also often tasked with guarding the best shooter on the opposing team, and Watkins has lauded his efforts in locking down some of the best around the Rock Valley.
“Zay is a guy who wants to guard the other team’s best player,” the head coach said. “He really prides himself on being able to hold whoever his matchup is below their average. You usually don’t have to do a whole lot to get Zay fired up, he’s a good self-starter. He has been phenomenal for us on both ends this year.”
The point guard admitted that, like most young players, growing up he loved to score buckets. But, the passing role of the offense quickly came to his attention as the most important.
And Howard credits the team’s ability as a whole to share the ball to their success this season.
“It’s getting each other open, that’s what we do really well,” he continued. “Off the dribble, (defenders) have to help on me, and then I kick it out to AJ (Dotson on the perimeter). And if they don’t, they help off AJ too much? Then, Tyshawn will be wide open and do what he has to do.”
A typical Howard pass that has become fan favorite for the Turner crowd is undoubtedly his dish to Teague-Johnson, who he often finds cutting to the rim before the 6-foot-5 senior lays down a booming dunk.
“It brings up all the energy throughout the gym and the team,” Howard said.
Howard credits a great supporting cast around him, with scorers like Will Lauterbach and Konner Giddley last season along with Teague-Johnson, Dotson and Noah Amosa stepping up this year.
But Watkins also praised Howard for really stepping up into a leadership role to help improve the offense.
“Zay has really been a coach for us on the floor all season long,” he said. “He’s telling guys where to go and picking them up when they make mistakes.”
The Trojans (17-6, 12-2 RVCR) defeated Edgerton 64-58 on Monday night to move into a tie for first place in the conference. A win on Thursday against Big Foot would guarantee at least a share of the title, and if Edgerton were to be upset by Clinton it would earn Turner sole possession.
Fifth-seeded Turner opens WIAA Division 3 regional play against 13th-seeded Mayville on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The winner plays at fourth-seeded Edgerton on Friday.
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