Jan. 11, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF men's basketball head coach Kirk Speraw announced on Friday that guard Jahaziel Howard (Atlanta, Ga./Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy) has joined the Knights. A transfer from Oral Roberts, Howard is now enrolled at UCF will be eligible to play for the Knights following the fall semester next season.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Howard will have three years of eligibility with the Knights.

As a senior at Southwest Atlanta Christian last year, Howard was named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-Area Player of the Year. He averaged 22 points and four rebounds and garnered Georgia Class A All-State Honorable Mention honors.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Jahaziel to our basketball program," Speraw said. "He is a great young man who is excited to be a UCF Knight."

Howard did not participate in any games for Oral Roberts this season.

Following his senior campaign, Howard played in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Game. He connected on 75 3-pointers during the year and led Southwest Christian to a 20-win season and an appearance in the state championship quarterfinals.

While with the Warriors, Howard helped Southwest Atlanta Christian to a pair of state titles.

Speraw's Knights are in their third campaign in Conference USA. In 2006-07, the team went 22-9 overall and 11-5 in C-USA play to finish second in the 12-team league. Following the regular season, Speraw was selected as the conference coach of the year.

The program is in its first campaign inside the new UCF Arena. The state-of-the-art 10,000-seat facility provides the Knights with one of the top venues in the nation.

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