Brief:
Name - Dwight Howard
Profession - NBA Player
Hometown - Atlanta
Born - December 8, 1985

Notables:
Dwight Howard was born into a family of athletes. His mother played on the inaugural women's basketball team at Morris Brown College and his father still serves as Athletic Director at Howard's high school Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in Atlanta. Howard currently plays basketball for the Orlando Magic where he was selected first overall by the team in the 2004 NBA Draft. During his first year with the team in 2005, he played and started in all 82 games making him the first player in NBA history directly out of high school to start in every game of his rookie season. In 2005, he was a unanimous selection to the NBA's All-Rookie First Team.

A two-time NBA All-Star and All-NBA member and one-time NBA All-Defensive member, he has been ranked consistently as one of the best in the league in field goal percentage. Howard led the NBA with 269 dunks, the third straight season to lead the league in slams. He captured the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Championship at All-Star weekend with his creative dunk routine featuring the "Superman" dunk. Howard led the NBA in rebounding (14.2 rpg), becoming the youngest player in NBA history to lead the league at 22 years old. Howard's overall play and his spectacular dunks have gained him prominence as one of the brightest young prospects in the NBA and the team leader of the Magic. Most recently, he led the Magic to the 2008 NBA Playoffs and qualified for the 2008 games in Beijing where he was part of the United States' basketball team.

Howard stays busy off the court in his community. He was the 2005 and 2008 recipient of the Rich and Helen De Vos Community Enrichment Award for his outstanding efforts in the Central Florida community. Howard also has participated in several NBA "Read to Achieve" assemblies encouraging children to make reading a priority. He received the NBA Community Assist award in July 2007 after donating $17,500 to the Pine Hills Boys & Girls Club for new computers, televisions and furniture. Together with his parents, Howard established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. which provides scholarships for students who want to attend his alma mater. The Foundation also organizes summer basketball camps for boys and girls, and together with high school and college coaches and players, fellow NBA players are invited to be on hand at the camp.