The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 57 BY CHRIS BALAS I t's the rare college basketball recruit with a father in coaching who doesn't play for his father, something to which Michigan basketball fans who follow re- cruiting closely can attest. Trey Zeigler, whose father, Ernie, coached at Central Michigan; Ray Mc- Callum Jr. (Ray Sr., Detroit) and Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Pat Sr., Wisconsin-Mil- waukee) are examples of highly rated prep players that U-M coaches recruited hard, only to watch them end up playing at smaller schools for their fathers. That's one of many reasons college basketball recruiting analysts believe Jett Howard (6-7, Rivals.com's No. 35 player nationally in the 2022 class) will play for his father, Juwan Howard, at Michigan. But the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy standout has taken vis- its to N.C. State, Tennessee and Michi- gan (Sept. 18 weekend), and his father has encouraged him to go through the process. "He tells me, 'I don't want you to look back in 30 years and have regrets … feel like I pushed you into doing something you didn't want to do,'" the younger Howard said. "I know he wants me to be happy." So Juwan treated him like a recruit on his visit instead of just his son, tak- ing him around campus, showing him the facilities and letting him know just how much he wanted him to join his program. It started Friday, Sept. 17, when he, point guard pledge Dug McDaniel of Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI (5-10, No. 71) and forward Gregg Glenn (6-7, No. 77) of Pompano Beach (Fla.) Calvary Christian all arrived for their officials. The trio know each other well, having played AAU ball together growing up, and shared the experience together. Also involved — Michigan sopho- more Jace Howard, Jett's older brother. It was his birthday weekend, too, and they enjoyed breakfast together Sunday morning with the family before the visit ended … with Jett taking a nap at the head coach's house Sunday afternoon. Asked if all recruits got equal treat- ment, Howard responded with a laugh, 'It's my mom!'" And she (Jenine Howard) has been as instrumental in his development as anyone. She was traveling with her sons when her husband was still in the NBA, and she's been helping Jett with the re- cruiting process. She was with him on his official to Tennessee, and she was as impressed as her son. "She loves Coach [Rick] Barnes," Howard said. "They did a great job showing their vision for me … how they would use me in the offense. They really let me know how I'd fit there." He got the red carpet treatment at N.C. State, too, but Tennessee might be the biggest threat to pull the major up- set in this recruitment, thanks in large part to the head coach. "My dad will roll his eyes and joke that Coach Barnes is my mom's new boyfriend," Howard added with a laugh. The Michigan coach didn't take any- thing for granted on the trip, showing the recruits (and his son) around him- self. Jett admitted he hadn't seen the entire campus yet, so he was excited to see it all — and he wasn't disappointed. "I loved it," he said. And when they got back to the bas- ketball facilities, his father broke down film for him and showed him how he planned to use him in the offense if he got his commitment. "They want me to play a combination of the one, two and three," Howard said. "They showed me how I fit, where they saw me in different situations on the floor. I liked it." But he also got the 'defense first' speech all recruits get when they first arrive on campus for their visits. That's going to be the program's identity, and it was made clear. In that area, Howard is still getting better. He felt he made a huge leap at the end of his sophomore year, but COVID didn't allow him to show his progress. This year, he became one of the biggest movers in the rankings after displaying ability on that end as well as his all- around offensive game. Once known as a spot-up shooter, he now can get to the rim, pass and shoot the midrange jumper. And he has a high all-around basketball IQ. One scout said he would have been a perfect fit for a John Beilein-coached Michigan team, too … and Juwan How- ard has already proven what he can do with such talent. Howard isn't sure when he'll com- mit, though he's flirted with the idea of waiting until the late signing period. "I'm hoping one day I'll wake up and say, 'This is what I'm going to do,' and then just commit," he said. When he does, it will end one of the more unusual recruitments in Michigan basketball history. U-M fans hope it's a happy conclusion, and that they'll get to see yet another Howard in maize and blue. BASKETBALL RECRUITING Jett Howard Enjoys Official Visit, Remains A Priority In 2022 Howard, Rivals.com's No. 35 overall player nationally in the 2022 class, is widely expected to come to Michigan to play for his father, head coach Juwan Howard. PHOTO COURTESY USA BASKETBALL