Athletes to watch

James Harden

Dwight Howard was the player most speculators figured would be traded at Thursday’s deadline because of his expiring contract, but no one who has watched the Rockets closely this season blames him for the team’s disappointing play before the All-Star break. Most fingers have been pointed at last season’s MVP runner up, who, despite good numbers, hasn’t shown the leadership or defensive effort necessary this season. If the Rockets turn it around, starting Friday night in Phoenix, it will be because Harden stepped up.

Mallory Pugh

Premature reports were the U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year for 2015 would become the first high school player to bypass college and go directly to the NWSL. But she remains committed to UCLA. Meantime, the high school senior from Colorado is at 17 the youngest player ever to make the U.S. Women’s National Team in Olympic qualifying. The United States can clinch a berth in the Olympics with a victory Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium against Trinidad and Tobago.

Andrew Lantrip

The University of Houston junior right hander led the American Athletic Conference last season in strikeouts with 115. He also had a 9-3 record and 2.62 earned run average. As a result, he was selected to the National Collegiate Baseball Weekly’s pre-season All-American first team going into Friday’s home opener.

Chase Elliott

Continuing in the family business, Bill Elliott’s boy became the youngest driver to win the pole for Sunday’s Daytona 500. The 20-year-old not only has to live up to the reputation of his father, who won twice at Daytona, but also has the pressure of taking over the No. 24 for Hendrick Motorsports from retired legend Jeff Gordon.