The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1123063
JUNE/JULY 2019 THE WOLVERINE 19 opportunity, not about the Fab Five. That's the way it should be, and it's the best way to honor Beilein and his legacy. As expected, Beilein bowed out gracefully. "Warde Manuel had great options in front of him," Beilein tweeted May 23. "The selection of Juwan was a fabulous one. He loves U-M, knows hoops and has a thirst to coach. He is a great fit to lead U-M into the next decade of Michigan basketball. I will be rooting for Juwan and his team every game." The torch has officially been passed. It's up to Howard now to keep Michi- gan basketball's fires roaring. ❏ New Michigan head basketball coach Juwan Howard didn't take much time to make an impact on the recruiting trail, immediately getting signee Cole Bajema of Lynden ( Wash.) Christian back in the fold. The 6-7, 175-pounder, ranked as Rivals.com's No. 95 class of 2019 player nationally, tweeted on May 25 that he was sticking with Michigan despite a coaching change. Howard's hiring also grabbed a num- ber of recruits' attention, including former signee Jalen Wilson, the 6-8, 210-pounder out of Denton ( Texas) Guyer ranked as the No. 47 prospect in the land. Bajema came back in the fold after thinking long and hard about his re- cruitment post-John Beilein. "The departure of Coach Beilein came as a big surprise," Bajema said. "Given Coach Beilein recruited me, I am sad to see him go but fully support him in his new venture at the Cavaliers. I cannot thank the entire Michigan basketball staff enough for their support. "Having patiently waited for Michigan to name its new head coach, I am very excited Juwan Howard is the new head coach. I believe he will uphold the great culture that is Michigan basketball. I know there's been a lot of speculation out there, but I am ALL IN for Coach Howard and ready to report in June. Go Blue!" Bajema's coach, Roger DeBoer, said his star has been hit- ting the weights "hard," and there have been reports he's already added 22 pounds. "He could be very special when he gets stronger," DeBoer said. "He has already improved a lot since the season." Bajema notched 19 points and seven rebounds in the re- cent Washington vs. Oregon All-Star Game. Wilson, meanwhile, confirmed that Michigan is definitely in the mix despite him opting out of his letter of intent and planning to visit Kansas and North Carolina. Wilson was named after former Fab Fiver Jalen Rose, after all, and How- ard could have an even better shot at keeping him in the fold if the coach keeps a couple of assistants on staff. Meanwhile, class of 2020 standout pledge Zeb Jackson, the 6-3, 165-pouder listed as the No. 65 rising senior nationally, is still firmly committed. He recently announced his transfer to Montverde (Fla.) Academy from Toledo (Ohio) Maumee Valley Country Day and tweeted a picture with Howard taken three years ago. Other 2020 targets have taken wait-and-see attitudes, in- cluding Duncanville (Texas) forward Mi- cah Peavy, Rivals' No. 63 overall recruit. The 6-5, 172-pounder has already taken official visits to LSU and U-M, but more trips are on tap. "I haven't scheduled anything yet, but I would like to get back onto campus at Texas, visit Oregon, take an official to Texas Tech, and that is about it," he told Rivals.com. "I am going to wait until after the summer to commit, and I will sign during the Early Signing Period." He has kept close tabs on the situation at Michigan. "I really liked the coaching staff they had and the family atmosphere," he said. "They're still on my list, and I am just waiting to see who Coach Howard hires as his assistants." In late May, Rivals.com's Corey Evans reported: "The thought just last month was that Michigan and Texas Tech were the two to beat. However, with the re- cent coaching change in Ann Arbor, questions remain as to the direction that Howard will take with Peavy. For now, expect more suitors to emerge and a commitment to be made sometime later this summer." Center Zach Loveday (6-11, 215 pounds, the No. 54 prospect nationally), an Ohioan who plays at Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, also chimed in on Beilein's departure. "That was out of the blue and literally blind-sided just about everybody," Loveday said. "That is the business side of it." Michigan is still one of his favorites, and U-M was thought to be in his top two before Beilein left. "They are definitely under consideration still," he said. "It would definitely be something I'd really be interested in. I'd like to get to know [Howard] well. "If the whole staff stays there, that would be important to me. I'd still have a relationship with a lot of those guys. We'd continue to push forward with new coach Juwan Howard." Finally, elite 2020 guard Nimari Burnett (6-4, 180, No. 25 player in his class) was the last prospect to receive an offer from Beilein. He played for Michigan assistant Luke Yaklich growing up and had a strong relationship with him. "I'm excited about the hire," Burnett, a Chicago native who transferred to Napa (Cali.) Prolific Prep two years ago, said. "My interest is mostly the same, but a little more interested." Alabama, Auburn, Illinois and Iowa are among those who have offered. — Chris Balas Recruits React To Juwan Howard's Hiring Four-star forward Cole Bajema, ranked as Rivals.com's No. 95 prospect nationally, tweeted on May 25 after Howard's hire that he was sticking with Michigan, whom he officially signed with in November. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM