WASHINGTON, DC – There's one thing that Brooklynn Fort-Davis loves more than playing basketball.

"Seeing others smile," said the 6-foot Howard University women's basketball senior forward following a recent game against Towson. "That makes me smile. I feel like I am a giver. I always check in on others and make sure they are well before I check in on myself. Seeing people smile, lets me know I am doing the right thing."

• As Howard's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president, she's uniting student-athletes.
• Fort-Davis dispenses wisdom to middle school students when she speaks with them.
• The biology major from Chicago is also helping her team as one of its leaders.

"I have this dire need to help others," Fort- Davis said. "To go into schools and give them info they may need, it's something I like to do. I really like helping kids and elderly people. I need to find a career in the medical field where I can help. I do like to be surrounded by people. I am a people person. Making others smile is when I am at my happiest."

Fort- Davis experienced the height of emotional bliss recently when she played her first career collegiate contest in her hometown when Howard visited DePaul on Dec. 12. Holding a bouquet of flowers, Fort-Kent's smile was wider than Lake Michigan as she was surrounded by a large gaggle of family and friends, mostly wearing red shirts.

Fort-Davis produced a solid effort of seven points and nine rebounds against the Blue Demons inside of Wintrust Arena. She's been strong this season for the Bison, averaging 7.5 points and a team-leading 5.7 rebounds per game, which is among the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) leaders.

Heading into Sunday's home matinee against North Texas at 2 p.m., Fort- Davis has grabbed at least five rebounds in six straight games. An expert snatcher of missed shots, Fort- Davis understands there's a simple formula to her success aside from her strong legs and tremendous leaping ability.

"I am always surrounded by people in the post," Fort- Davis said. "I am so close to people it's a shame. I was taller than everybody and I relied on that at first, but since playing for Coach Ty, she put emphasis on effort because rebounds are free. It's a thrill for me when I grab a rebound and cuff it because I feel like Michael Jordan. I am in the air and doing the Jordan sign."

Beneath her sparkling smile lies a fierce and determined work-ethic that has helped her blossom into a defensive force.

She's also had to be patient while working hard during practice. During the offseason. In the weight room. Her development eventually put a smile on the face of Howard Head Women's Basketball Coach Ty Grace.

"Brooklynn is special because she's been resilient in many times of adversity and has a tough winning pedigree coming out of Whitney Young High School in Chicago," Grace said. "She is goal oriented and focused on the things she wants to accomplish. Coming into Howard and having to play behind players at her position, she never complained. She kept working and was ready when it was her turn. It's been great to see her flourish and develop the way she has."

She learned the game by playing at Tully Park, a renowned gym in which the baseline was next to wall, and spectators watched all the action from the second level, providing a fish in a tank view of all the action below. It was a place where only the strong survived and you called fouls at your own risk.

"Chicago basketball is tough," Fort-Davis said. "It's not easy. We are very scrappy on defense. Very aggressive. I had a lot of struggling memories of missing layups and not being so good. I also elevated and got better. I proud of myself on being resilient."

Fort- Davis almost went a different direction, which would have been sad for the basketball world.

"Funny thing is my dad wanted me to play basketball because I was tall," Fort-Kent said. "I wanted to be a cheerleader and play the guitar. Then I watched my cousin Gabby play when I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I saw how good she was and how exciting the game was. That motivated me to play. I wasn't so good at first, but I kept at it and kept it."

She started Howard's final 11 games of the season. Fort- Davis, who scored in double figures in six of Howard's final nine games, finished sixth in the conference in field goal percentage and seventh in rebounding.

Fort- Davis was dominant down the stretch last season as Howard finished with 21 wins and won the MEAC Tournament championship. In helping the Bison earn their first NCAA Tournament victory in program history over Incarnate Word, Fort-Davis had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

A self-describe "foodie", Fort-Davis is hungry to help the Bison return to the NCAA Tournament. Howard may be the preseason conference favorite, but it knows it will be challenged, most likely from Norfolk State, currently ranked 20th in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major Top 25 poll.

Brooklynn's tenure as SAAC president is off to a great start. The First Friday fellowships – featuring free food -- have been a hit bringing student-athletes from different teams together. Her presence adds a sparkle of light and excellence into any room she enters.

"You see all the smiles on the athletes' faces," Fort-Davis said. "They are very grateful and excited because it lets me know I am doing the right thing as SAAC president. I see myself in leadership and being my own CEO one day."

"I am proud to go to Howard and be an athlete," Fort-Davis added. "It takes a special type of person to stay at Howard, play at Howard, and be successful at Howard. Howard encourages academic excellence, so you are surrounded by so many people doing good so that encourages you to do good as well."

That's something worth smiling about.

Rob Knox is an award-winning professional. A member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Hall of Fame, Knox currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Information Directors Association of America (CoSIDA).