The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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58 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2021 BASKETBALL RECRUITING recruits, with associate head coach Phil Martelli right there with How- ard in leading the recruiting effort. "I'm on the phone with them very often, at least twice every two weeks or something like that," McDaniel said. "They just check in to let me know I'm still their priority and I'm still on the top of their list. "They're just always checking in, keeping in touch." Martelli is a legend on the East Coast, having been the head coach at St. Joseph's for 24 years, where he built incredible relationships. Mc- Daniel believes he has an uncanny ability to connect with players on that side of the country. "I think he's very understanding since he's very aware of the area," McDaniel said. "I think he under- stands our situation and our circum- stances, and I feel like he's a very relatable person to talk to. "That's always a good thing … to know that when you're talking, nobody's zon- ing out and he actually understands what you're saying." Howard, too, has proven he has the ability to bond with kids, parents and coaches all across the country. It helps that like Bradley, McDaniel is very familiar with Jett Howard. He grew up playing with him, and the two crossed paths frequently. "I look at Coach Juwan as family," McDaniel said. "I call him 'uncle,' be- cause I grew up playing with his son. He calls me 'Neph,' I call him 'Unc.' "We have a family kind of relation- ship. When we talk, it's just natu- ral, it's just family; we can talk about anything other than basketball be- cause that's how close we are." The longtime bond is a major rea- son McDaniel is extremely interested in Michigan. "I feel like I could trust him with my future because I did grow up with him," McDaniel continued. "I feel like he wouldn't lead me in the wrong direction when it comes to getting me to the next level, getting me to where I need to be. "He watched me and his son grow up together and play together, and him and my mom built a connection. We both trust him with my future." And playing with Jett, should the two link up in Ann Arbor, would be a dream come true of sorts, he added. "It would mean a lot to play with Jett," McDaniel said. "I feel like the chemistry would definitely be there, since he's a shooter and a scorer and I'm a passer. I feel like it's natural chemistry from when we played together. "We know each other's games, so I feel like we would go well on the floor together." He'd have a good rapport — on and off the court — with a couple other players, as well, considering he plays in the same AAU program on the Nike EYBL circuit (Team Take- over) as Michigan freshman products Hunter Dickinson and Terrance Wil- liams. The three are already good friends, and McDaniel is confident they could help make his transition smooth. "That would make me very com- fortable and help me adapt easier, because since they're from the area and I'm very good friends with them, they can just tell me things from the inside out," McDaniel said. "They could make my life easier, my whole freshman season easier since they're already experiencing it and they can help me out. "With the scouting report and playing against them [in practice], I know where they like to get the ball and where their good spots are. I feel like we could all play well together. I could definitely get them the ball and make them look good as the point guard." Both Dickinson and Williams have continued to recruit their friend to Ann Arbor. They share with McDan- iel just how much they're enjoying the experience and how they want him to have a similar one. "They like it up there, and they said that they definitely want to see me in Maize and Blue," he said. McDaniel is hoping to make a deci- sion as soon as early next year, and Michigan should have a great shot to land him. "I'm looking for a school that has other great players, but also where I can build a relationship with the coach, on and off the court, and we can have conversations other than basketball and have a bond outside of basketball, so we can go better to- gether on the court," McDaniel said. At this point, it's hard to envision someone who fits the bill better than Howard, putting U-M in an enviable position in McDaniel's recruitment. ❑ On The Web For regular reports on Michigan basketball recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com. Dug McDaniel is a four-star prospect from Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI who is ranked as the No. 46 overall player in the country by Rivals.com. PHOTO BY BOB BLANCHARD/RJBSPORTS.COM