Longwood University Athletics

2026: Longwood’s leading home run hitter who was a Big South All-Tournament Team selection…Batted .276 (58-210) on the season with 16 home runs, 12 doubles, a team-best 57 RBI and 35 runs scored…Had a team-leading .562 slugging percentage to go with a .384 on-base percentage…His 16 home runs are tied for second-most in a single season in team history, behind only Michael Tucker…The 16 homers also are good for second in the Big South…Hit .385 with 11 RBI and four home runs in the Big South Tournament to earn his all-tournament honors… Helped Longwood win five games in the Big South Tournament for the first time in team history, advancing to the Big South Championship game and finishing as runner-up…The team won 34 games, tying its Division I record…Had 15 multi-hit games and a team-best 13 multi-RBI games…Had a season-best four hits against USC Upstate (May 20) to open the Big South Tournament and start a run of three straight games with a home run (May 20 vs. USC Upstate, May 20 vs. Radford, May 22 vs. Charleston Southern)…Drove in runs in six of Longwood’s seven games in the Big South Tournament…Recorded a season-best six RBI against UMBC (Feb. 21)…Tied a team record with three doubles in a game against USC Upstate (March 22)…Hit a season-best two home runs twice: Youngstown State (March 1) and George Mason (March 10)…Drew a season-best three walks against Presbyterian (April 18)…
 
Prior to Longwood: Played the past two seasons at Mount Olive, where he batted .291 with 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 59 RBI...Earned D2CCA All-Region honors...Also earned All-Conference Carolinas Second Team honors as a utility player who played 31 games at third base and 18 at first base...Led Mount Olive with 10 home runs...Batted .310 in 184 at bats while driving in 47 runs and adding 14 doubles...Drew 32 walks and scored 43 runs...Had 11 multi-RBI games...In his Mount Olive debut season in 2024, helped the team advance to the Division II NCAA Southeast Regional...Played in 18 games with nine starts in 2024 while hitting .194 in 36 at bats while swatting two home runs...

High School: Played for four years at South Lenoir where he also played football (four years) and basketball (three years)...Two time all-state, all-conference and conference MVP in baseball...Two-year team captain...

Personal: Son of Jerry and Kara Howard...Has two siblings, Jake and Gracie...Mom, Kara, played volleyball at Mount Olive...Dad, Jerry, played basketball at LCC...Grandpa, Jon Whaley, played baseball and basketball at LCC...Uncle, Ryan Whaley, played football at East Carolina...Sister, Gracie, played volleyball at Barton College...Brother, Jake, played baseball at Chowan...Aspires to play professionally and eventually coach...Favorite athlete is Mookie Betts...Hobbies include fishing, hunting, boating, spending time outdoors, and spending time with family watching movies...