The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1371232
JUNE/JULY 2021 THE WOLVERINE 23 2021 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Most prep standouts don't get their first taste of the big time until they arrive at their college of choice. It will be 'been there, done that' for Houstan when the lights go on at Michigan, and he's well prepared. "It was really fun," Houstan said of prep career and lifting the national championship trophy with his team- mates. "I definitely put [the crowd] out of my mind and focused on the game. At Montverde, we play in so many big games. Obviously, this year there weren't tons of people there, but in the past, there were so many big games with lots of people, or on ESPN with a lot of people watching. "But it's kind of become normal now to where we play in the national championship. It seems kind of regu- lar … but it always feels great." It's about to ramp up tenfold, and he's well aware. He also can't wait, believing he's found the perfect fit for his game. He would have paid close attention to Michigan basketball any- way because Zeb Jackson, his former Montverde teammate, was a fresh- man guard in Ann Arbor this year, but he had even more incentive knowing he'd likely be playing the Franz Wag- ner role for the 2021-22 Wolverines. That was never the promise from head coach Juwan Howard, but it is the expectation. The coach always re- mained honest while letting Houstan know just how high the expectations were, and not just on one end of the floor. "They said they want me to come in and be someone who can contrib- ute right away," Houstan said. "They want me to be a leader and contrib- ute on the wing, both on the offen- sive and defensive side of the ball. I think I can definitely play at the four [power forward] at times as well. "[Howard] talks about defense all the time too. He specifically talks about how he wants me to improve more and become a really good two- way player. I'm excited to do that." Houstan bonded with Howard im- mediately when the Michigan coach started recruiting him, impressed with how down to earth the longtime NBA star was despite all his accom- plishments. Howard's knowledge of the game and interest in Houstan as a person made it a no-brainer, and a makeable four-hour drive from his Mississauga home was the icing on top, knowing his family and friends would be able to see him play. The Michigan coaches, meanwhile, are as excited to get him on campus as he is to be coming to Ann Arbor. "This kid is just a basketball player," assistant Saddi Washington said. "The seriousness with which he takes the game, works on his craft is exciting. It's a good mesh with what we have … and like all of the fresh- men, he's a really good, genuine kid that fits our culture." One with high expectations who seems ready to embrace the moment. ❏ In the GEICO Nationals champion- ship game, Houstan scored 16 points, including nine down the stretch, to help lead Montverde (Fla.) Academy to the title. PHOTO COURTESY THE HOUSTAN FAMILY