Taking your eyes off Destiny Howell is a mistake.
 
You see, the moment you look elsewhere, Howell will do something you'd never seen before or would never see again, creating hardwood masterpieces each time she competes.
 
The gifted Howard University junior guard and sport management major enjoys the pleasure of playing the game she loves passionately and purposefully. She roars to the basket with a smooth rush of power and soars above defenders with athletic ferocity while dissecting opponents with clinical precision. 
 
Howell is fired up as Howard starts the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament against Delaware State on Thursday inside of the spacious Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, at 2 p.m.
 
The Scope Arena holds happy memories for Howell. The last time she was there, she celebrated a MEAC Tournament championship beneath a colorful confetti shower with her joyous teammates. Howell also earned MEAC Most Tournament Player honors.
 
"March is my favorite month," Howell said in a business-like tone. "I am excited because it's tournament time. We're going into the tournament with a different focus. We can do something that hasn't been done in Howard's history. To know that we have a chance to leave a legacy at Howard is a special thing."
 
Howard rolls into this week's championship tournament with seven wins in its last nine games. Howell's talent and drive has willed Howard to the regular season finish line.
 
The graceful Howell has been at her dominating best, averaging 19.3 points during that span. She has scored at least 20 points six times over Howard's last nine games, including 23 in last week's victory over Norfolk State.
 
Howell leads the MEAC's leading scorer (16.5 points). Howell is second in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (34.9), third in 3-point field goals per game (2.4), and third in total 3-pointers (60). She's also sixth in field goal percentage (41.1).
 
Howard endured injuries to key contributors, forcing more on Howell. She has responded in a big way. Yet, while those numbers make Howell proud, along with the overall improvement of her game, it's one growth area that has transformed her into an assassin.
 
This season has been different for Howell, who has channeled the spirit of her favorite player, Kobe Bryant, to become a force and a leader.
 
"Knowing we had certain veterans out for the season, I knew I had to step up and take a lot of responsibility," Howell said. "This year helped me grow and become mentally stronger, which has been able to help everybody out while we faced adversity."
 
The challenges were made easier by pregame calls with her mom, Suzanne. Howell's family is her rock. She plays for them, which includes her grandparents, Curlyn and Bill Howell.
 
"They are my why," Howell said of her family. "Keeping that in my head helps me go harder each time I take the floor. I talk to my mom before every game. She tells me what I need to hear, and we pray on the phone. She lets me know the game is mine. She grounds me before each game. My mom is my biggest supporter. Driving me to games and getting me training as a single mother. I appreciate the sacrifices she made for me." 
 
Howell's father, Steven, got her started playing basketball when she was nine years old. With her dad playing in a league for older men, Howell used to go on the floor at halftime of his games and shoot. Howell didn't have any issues making shots. Years later, Howell is still making shots.
 
It wasn't until she was 13 that Howell started taking basketball seriously and believed it could take her places. Howell played all over Queens and Long Island growing up. The main venues where she honed her skills were inside the Yes We Can Center in Westbury and the courts at Glen Oaks in Queens.
 
Whenever her basketball career ends, Howell wants to go into coaching. Off the court, Howell, a Golden State Warrior fan, watches a lot of basketball. She has found time to start streaming "Scandal" and "Outer Banks."
 
She's also enjoyed the community service of packing boxes of food at a local church, running a camp for younger kids, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Overall, Howell has appreciated her time at Howard. Being at the Mecca fills her with joy.
 
"I never thought I would be here or at an HBCU until my senior year of high school," Howell said. "My options were limited. Researching Howard did it for me. I was on campus during my visit, and seeing the type of people here, inspired me.
 
"I am around the next Black lawyers, engineers, and psychologists. I committed on the visit. I am here doing things I never imagined. God puts you where you're supposed to be, and I am here. Being at Howard was my destiny, no pun intended."