And what a face he was

Mad Antics

The D-League will hold its annual national tryouts June 15 in New York. The one-day event will see 200 hopefuls in full-court games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts.May 16, 2013

Howard, Smith work at Development League camp

Mad Ants guard Ron Howard and center Tommy Smith accepted invitations to the NBA Development League Elite Mini Camp, which started Monday and runs through Tuesday in Chicago.May 13, 2013

Record year for D-League

It wasn't only the Mad Ants that made 2012-13 their best season; the rest of the NBA Development League had a record-setting year, as well.May 1, 2013

A couple times Friday night, Jeff Potter called Ron Howard the "face" of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants D-League franchise.

There couldn't have been a better face to represent a team that hoped to find a niche in the city's sports landscape.

Howard and the team confirmed Friday that they will part company this season because offers are on the table too good to turn down. He'll either play in Asia or Europe - he's not sure yet. Friday night everyone said their goodbyes.

The story of the man who shares the same name of the now-Hollywood director is right out of Hollywood itself.

Howard came to Fort Wayne three years ago as an unknown who wasn't ready to quit the game he loved, so he was one of several in the open tryouts. He made the team in 2007-08, starred in 08-09, and was named to the D-League All-Star Team this season.

Maybe someone else will break his record of over 2,000 career points, but it's tough to imagine that this franchise will have a better face.