Welcome to the inaugural ESSENCE.com Eye Candy of the Week! Each and every Monday, we will bring you a different delicious fella to swoon over. But, of course, we couldn’t just stop there. We’re searching for men who not only look good but also do good. Mondays are looking better now, right?
This week we bring you Mr. Dwight Howard.
Enjoy and happy clicking!
The Orlando Magic star can turn heads in professional attire or athletic gear. We love a man who can look good on and off the court.
A Sagittarius from Atlanta, Howard maintains a striking physique that even makes other professional athletes appear unfit. The athletic hoopster has drawn comparisons to some of the league’s greatest centers, even though he doesn’t turn 25 until December 8, 2009. He was also named to the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.
Over the summer Dwight headed to Johannesburg, South Africa, to volunteer at the NBA-sponsored camp “Basketball Without Boarders.”
Howard stepped up his volunteer efforts at the camp while in South Africa. Here, he helps build a Habitat for Humanity house.
He also planted a peach tree at Cotlands, a facility in Soweto which provides care for orphaned and sick children.
Not only does Howard give back abroad, but the basketball star is involved in charities big time in the United States as well. A reported devout Christian, he contributes substantially to many philanthropic causes. The Dwight D. Howard Foundation, Inc., has endowed scholarships for students to attend Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, his alma mater. The foundation has also made grants to Lovell Elementary School and Memorial Middle School in Orlando.
This tall, dark and handsome star has a sweet spot for kids, including orphans he met in South Africa.
Howard has taken notes from world leaders like Nelson Mandela and has dedicated himself to giving back to others.
Howard may have skipped college to enter the NBA, but he continues to be a sharp businessman. Shortly after joining the NBA, he founded the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. with his parents.
The top baller shared his skills with his team, who he coached during a scrimmage game for the NBA camp in Johannesburg.
At just under a whopping 7 feet and 265 pounds of sculpted muscle, the high-performing center has been given the nickname “Superman” for his skills on the court.
Howard will be the cover athlete for EA Sports NBA Live 10 game when it is released in October 2009. It’s his first time on the cover of the popular video game.
“It’s an honor to be named as the cover athlete for NBA Live 10,” Howard said in a company news release. “This year has been a crazy ride and this is a cool way to cap it off.”
Howard added the title of father to his already impressive resume. Though excited about his toddler son, Braylon Joshua Robert Howard, the NBA star still prefers to keep most details from his personal life out of the limelight. We certainly can’t blame him.
Howard once revealed to Men’s Fitness magazine that his buff body wasn’t always so buff.
“I used to be skinny in high school but then I started working out, lifting weights, and eating better,” admits Howard.
