South Adelaide’s US import Janae Howard top scorer in women’s state league basketball

JANAE Howard hopes to repay South Adelaide for the chance to play basketball in Australia by helping the club end its five-year finals drought.

JANAE Howard hopes to repay South Adelaide for the chance to play basketball in Australia by helping the club end its five-year finals drought.

The Panthers last made the playoffs in 2009 — the same year Howard was on US college basketball’s biggest stage as her Louisville team lost the televised national final to Connecticut.

Since then South has had some barren years, winning a total of four games the past two seasons, and Howard has switched colleges twice before waiting for an overseas opportunity.

This season the 24-year-old centre is leading the state league with 25.4 points per game.

She says she is enjoying the challenge of turning the Marion-based Panthers’ fortunes around.

“It’s exciting,” Howard says.

“I’ve heard about the past but it’s a whole new team.

“I’m really grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait for the next four months.

“I think we can make a lot of noise this season.”

Howard joined South in February after finding an agent on Facebook then speaking to Panthers coach Vikki Kelson.

She had graduated from St Catharine College and was working at a restaurant and sporting goods store back home in Owensboro, Kentucky — a small town that considers itself the barbecue capital of the world.

“I just lived at home, was playing pick-up games with guys that I knew and then this came about — my first overseas playing experience.

“I thought it was perfect.”

The time at South has pleased Howard so much she is already looking forward to extending her stay beyond this season.

“I love everything about the team — teammates, coaching staff, people.

“I’m hoping to come back next year.”