The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1404875
SEPTEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 17 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS A three-star recruit out of Holt (Mich.) High, Jaron Faulds was recruited by the Wolverines as a preferred walk-on back in 2017, but he chose to head to the Ivy League and attend Columbia. After averaging 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game during the 2017-18 campaign, his freshman year, Faulds decided to transfer to Michigan and return closer to home. "I learned a lot. Being in New York City, you are forced to grow up a whole lot," Faulds said. "I thought that was awe- some, just how independent you have to be there. I love the city, I loved everything about that. I loved the basketball program, I loved my teammates. "But I realized after my first season that I was very far from home, and I knew that I still had an opportunity to go and play for Michigan." So he took advantage. His major at the time was computer science, and Michigan's program actually ranked higher than Columbia's, another reason why Faulds called his deci- sion a "no-brainer." "I knew that coming here would be great for me and I would have an amazing time here at Michigan," he said. "I would have fun, and also I would have a really fun time winning." Faulds has played in just 15 games over the last two sea- sons (he sat out in 2018-19 due to transfer rules) compared to the 26 appearances he made in his one year at Columbia, but he's still more than happy with his decision. "Even though I know I would've played more at Columbia, I truly do believe that here at Michigan I've improved as a player much more than I would have," Faulds said. "I know I haven't played a whole lot, but going up against guys like [former center Jon] Teske and [second-year freshman center] Hunter [Dickinson] every day, it really pushes me and makes me a whole lot better. "And having a coach like Juwan Howard … if you are a player and have the opportunity to be coached by Juwan Howard, then you are a lucky person. Coach has been great. He pushes us every single day, makes us compete. He really brings out the full potential of everyone on the team. There's no one better, to be honest, to be here coaching us." A U-M Academic Achievement honoree in 2019, Faulds wound up switching his major to cognitive science while minoring in computer science — the field he ultimately wants to go into. He could've graduated this past spring, but decided to come back and earn his computer science major. Receiving the opportunity to play for Howard and Co. one more year was icing on the cake. "'I would love, more than anything, to come back," Faulds told Howard in his exit meeting following the 2020-21 cam- paign. "This is my home, and I still feel that I have unfinished business here, so I would love, more than anything, to come back and play for you again." "This is your home," Howard said, welcoming Faulds back with open arms. Faulds has developed his leadership voice on the team since arriving back in 2018, culminating in being one of the team's veteran presences ahead of the 2021-22 season. "Over time, you learn the details, you learn what Coach expects of us, and — especially as upperclassmen — we are able to communicate that to the new guys," Faulds said. "This year, I've really been focusing on helping the new guys, telling them, 'I know that Coach may let this slide right now — usually he doesn't, usually he's on each and every one of us to make us better — but once the season actually starts, you're going to have to focus on this.' "Coach is huge on the details, because details are what win championships." He has one more year to take it all in and possibly win an- other title (U-M won the Big Ten regular-season crown last season), and this one will be extra special, with the return of fans in the stands set to take place. "Last year, it was just different; everything was different," Faulds said. "We tried to hype things up as much as we could on the bench and cheer the guys on, but it really just felt like a pickup game out there. "I'm really excited for this year because that's what Michi- gan is all about — our fans; we have one of the best fan bases in the entire world. That's what makes Michigan stand out, our fan base. I'm ready for sold-out games again, and I know my teammates are too." — Clayton Sayfie Faulds averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game during the 2017-18 season at Columbia, then transferred to Michigan, where he walked on to the basketball program. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Student-Athlete Of The Month Men's Basketball Fifth-Year Senior Forward Jaron Faulds