Amber Howard is known for creating plays on the basketball court.

As one of the leading scorers in the Suburban One League the past couple seasons, Howard has an innate ability to create scoring opportunities.

But the Bensalem High School senior’s creativity isn’t limited to the basketball court.

Howard is a talented artist, a skill she honed over three years of art classes at Bensalem. While drawing is her preferred art form, Howard’s favorite piece is of another medium.

“I have a painting of a sunset that I really love,” Howard said.

It’s a piece that would look great in Howard’s dorm room next year at North Carolina A&T State. That is, if she can get it back.

“My teacher hung up the painting in the art room and I don’t think I’m getting it back,” Howard said with a laugh.

You can’t really blame Howard’s teachers for wanting to hold on to the painting. The way Howard’s basketball career is panning out, an early edition Amber Howard work could end up being quite the collector’s item.

Division 1 future in basketball at NC A&T 

Soon, Howard’s painting won’t be the only memorable item gracing Bensalem’s walls. After Saturday’s game, the school will have a 1,000-career-point banner to hang up.

Howard scored her 1,000th point in a win over Unionville, when the 6-foot-1 guard had a 26 points, along with 10 rebounds. She has hit double digits in all 17 games this season, and is averaging 18 points per game.

Heavily recruited since she was a freshman, Howard announced her commitment in August, choosing NC A&T from among multiple Division I offers. Since making her decision, a weight was lifted from her shoulders.

“This year I am playing more freely, whereas last year I felt like I was always playing for college coaches,” Howard said. “I was afraid of making mistakes and was really hard on myself.”

“This year, I’m having a lot more fun.”

She’s also playing with a lot more confidence. As surprising as it might sound for a Division I recruit to struggle with confidence, that was the case for Howard.

“Playing for Bensalem, we never made it to the playoffs and we haven’t had a winning season,” Howard explained. “I kind of questioned how good I really was. It affected me when making decisions to shoot the ball.”

“Over the summer, I played against some of the best players and best teams in the country and being able to hold my own in those games gave me the confidence I needed,” Howard said of the Philly Rise, a Nike Girls Elite Youth Basketball program that competes nationwide.

There’s no doubt that Howard’s increased confidence has paid off, for herself as well as her Bensalem squad.

“I gave myself a goal of scoring 20 points per game before the season,” Howard said.

A lofty goal for most high schoolers, Howard has scored exactly 20 points in four games, and surpassed the benchmark three times.

But for Howard, this season it’s “We Not Me,” a team slogan chosen by Howard and the other team captains.

As a result, the Owls sit at 12-5 and hold the 12th spot in the district rankings. It’s an exciting time for Howard and her senior teammates, who have yet to experience a playoff game and finished 8-14 last year.

“Beating (14-2) CB East was the turning point where we really started believing we can do this the rest of the season,” Howard said. “We are all more confident, as that was a game we’d lose last year.”

Howard’s hard work was rewarded when she was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.

“It wasn’t something I had really considered, but my dad had mentioned it a few times,” Howard said. “I actually found out about the nomination on social media. My dad was super excited and it really made me proud. I thought this is the best I can get from this.”

Nursing Amber Howard's college career

Next fall, Howard will begin a new era of best moments when she suits up for the Aggies. While Howard cites the team culture and the strong relationships between coaches and players as the main factor in choosing NC A&T, she’s also excited about the academic opportunities.

“I was so excited to see all the new technology that the nursing program has,” said Howard, who is planning a career in pediatric nursing. “It’s high-tech with lots of new buildings. The whole area is beautiful.”

If Howard happens to get homesick in Carolina, she won’t have to look far for a familiar face. Her grandparents and uncles live nearby, and her parents are planning to relocate to the area.

That means Howard’s 11-year-old brother will get to continue challenging his sister to one-on-one games.

“He’s just started getting into basketball,” Howard said. “Every time we play, he thinks he’s going to beat me. I win every time.”

Finishing the Season Strong at Bensalem

For now, though, Howard is more focused on continuing to win games with the Owls. And while she is their premier scorer, it’s been a team effort.

“This offseason, we worked hard on building team chemistry and everyone showed up to offseason workouts,” Howard said. “We deserve (a season like this).”

Howard is especially excited for the chance to win with her best friend and longtime teammate and fellow captain Peyton Miller.

“We played together in middle school and won championships,” said Howard. “Now we have one final season to do something special together.”

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Basketball star Amber Howard leaving legacy at Bensalem