The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1184078
DECEMBER 2019 THE WOLVERINE 53 BASKETBALL RECRUITING a year in college since choosing U-M over Kansas. Small forward Jace Howard (6-7, Rivals.com three-star prospect) of Hollywood (Fla.) University School, Howard's son, held offers from Day- ton, Saint Louis and others, and was closing in on a decision date as of Nov. 11. "I should be deciding soon," he said. "I'm just trying to find the date that works right with everything." He received a Michigan offer in September, and most believe he'll join his father in Ann Arbor. Four-star big man Hunter Dick- inson (7-1, No. 37 player nationally) is another with whom Michigan ap- peared in great shape, though he was keeping a lid on his intentions in the days leading up to the Nov. 13 Sign- ing Day. On Nov. 8, he said he had no decision date in mind, and that U-M, Notre Dame, Florida State and Duke were his constants. Rivals.com's Corey Evans noted he was surprised Dickinson seemed to be dragging his feet. "For a while it seemed like he had a new leader every few weeks," Evans said Nov. 8. "He's seen the four re- maining programs and has been mull- ing a final decision for a few weeks now. The expectation is that he would choose early." Evans believed Michigan was in good shape for Dickinson. "Coming down the stretch, Michi- gan looks to have the upper hand, and he could be the first high-end tra- ditional big man to pick Juwan How- ard," Evans said. Dickinson told PrepCircuit.com in October he liked Howard a lot. It's just a matter of taking the plunge. "He basically played my position, so I couldn't learn from a better per- son in college basketball in terms of what I am and who's done what I've done," he said. "Probably he and Pat- rick Ewing [the head coach at George- town] are the only two that I could think of that have done what I'm do- ing right now and can help me de- velop. I really like that. "Also, just his passion for coaching and passion for Michigan — you can really tell that he's super happy to be there. He just loves Michigan, and he just wants to bring a national champi- onship there. "I just really like how I can do bas- ketball and academics there. I really like him as a coach; I feel like I vibe with the team really well." Finally, five-star Josh Christopher (6-4, No. 12 talent in the senior class) of Lakewood (Calif.) Mayfair is vis- iting Nov. 22 for U-M's game with Houston Baptist. He averaged 21.7 points, 4.8 re- bounds and 5.8 assists a game for Vegas Elite in the Nike EYBL this summer and has already taken one visit — to tiny Howard. Christopher will visit Michigan, Missouri, Arizona State and UCLA over the next three months, and while Kentucky has been mentioned, he has no plans to visit. "I've decided to focus on my high school season for now and take my visits," Christopher told USA Today. "I'm not in any hurry. I'm giving Howard the same look that I'm giv- ing the other four, and we'll just see what happens from that." He is expected to sign in the April late signing period. "There is about a zero percent chance that he will do so in the com- ing days," Evans said of Christo- pher's signing. "Down to a final four for schools, Christopher has yet to take an official visit to any of his fi- nalists, though he did visit Howard earlier last month. "That is about to change, and the Wolverines have done a tremendous job of prioritizing Christopher dat- ing back to Juwan Howard's hiring. While the atmosphere might not be great for its game against Houston Baptist that falls during his visit, the trip will be more about getting a bet- ter feel for the school, Howard and his staff. "Outside of Michigan, the others in pursuit include Arizona State, Mis- souri and UCLA. Visits dates are cur- rently being worked on for each for later this winter. … He has ties to all three. Christopher's brother is a fresh- man guard at ASU, Missouri employs his cousin as its strength coach, and UCLA is the local program and he is relatively close with a number of its players." Evans added he wouldn't be sur- prised if Christopher ended up being the last elite 2020 prospect to end his recruitment. Regardless of how it finishes, Mich- igan's class already ranked as Rivals. com national recruiting analyst Eric Bossi's "most pleasant surprise" of the year. "Many wondered what, if any- thing, Juwan Howard could get done on the recruiting trail, and today Michigan sits with an impressive two-man class of top-10 recruit Isaiah Todd and four-star guard Zeb Jack- son," Bossi wrote in the days leading up to Signing Day. "They've been in the mix with several other big-name players and could see their efforts pay off again soon if Hunter Dickin- son goes through with a commitment to the Wolverines. "Get that done, and Howard will have exceeded any first-year recruit- ing expectations." CLASS OF 2021 KHRISTIAN LANDER VISITS Five-star Khristian Lander of Evansville (Ind.) Reitz is one of the top juniors in the nation, Rivals. com's No. 13 2021 prospect nation- ally — and he also grew up a Michi- gan fan. Lander visited U-M Oct. 26 in a trip that went extremely well for Howard and Co. The junior is far from a decision, holding offers from Indiana, Lou- isville, Tennessee, Purdue and oth- ers, but U-M, Indiana and Louisville seem to have separated from the pack. Lander is rated as Rivals.com's No. 13 prospect in the 2021 class and grew up a Michigan fan. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM