The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482097
40 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2022 2022-23 BASKETBALL PREVIEW matchups with Jace. "We played in the backyard for years. It's like heated rival- ries. Sometimes it goes to blows. But it doesn't get there on this level, thank God. I really respect him. "He knows all my moves. I try to do a step-back, and he's right there. I might as well just pass it and let somebody else get a shot. He's a great defender." Jett, by all accounts, is a very skilled shooter. How much, how soon? That's not easy to determine, and understand- ably, there are plenty of questions about a roster welcoming a host of newcomers, including five freshmen. This much is certain — Jett Howard has the capabilities to contribute early. "As a wing with the ability to score, he can contribute," Boesch said. "Defen- sively, I'm curious how he'll adjust to that. He's got that potential. But it's really dif- ficult — Eli Brooks wasn't a good defender as a freshman. "For Michigan, there's optimism in what you have inside. There's optimism with [graduate transfer guard] Jaelin [Llewellyn], and with [freshman guard] Michigan assistant coach Phil Martelli has seen and coached a lot of basketball, including 34 years at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, 24 as the Hawks' head coach. Martelli delivered his thoughts on the Wolverines' incoming group of players, both veteran transfers and the freshman class. Here's Martelli, on … Princeton grad transfer guard Jaelin Llewellyn: "He's re- ally like an elder statesman. He's been through so much. He's a Princeton grad. He's quiet, but he's a good player. "He's a really good outside shooter. He's been a little banged up, but he's just an older guy." Duke grad transfer guard Joey Baker: "Joey Baker is still coming through his hip surgery from the summer. He's got a beautiful stroke, and he's a very willing learner. All of these guys are." Freshman forward Tarris Reed Jr.: "He's just an old-fash- ioned, fundamentally sound big guy. To see his growth since his time in Juwan's laboratory is really a pleasure to watch. "He's a terrific young guy, expanding his game. I would say in July he could score at the rim. Now he's moved his game back a bit. He has adjusted his shooting form. He has a really bright future." Freshman guard Dug McDaniel: "He can move. He can really move. He's a pest defensively. He's very good at picking up full court, bothering the ball. "His ball has gone in the basket, and there are times that you think, maybe that shot [wasn't so good] … but the ball goes in the basket. He's a guy that thrives on competition." Freshman forward Gregg Glenn III: "His is still a position to be determined. Is he going to be a big wing? Is he going to be, really, an undersized four-man? That's still to be determined. "In the last 10 days, he's become very vocal, which is a good thing. The team is somewhat of a quiet team. That will change, and it is changing, now that they can see the finish line … there are games coming up." Freshman guard Jett Howard: "Jett Howard has as pretty a stroke as you're going to find. What I appreciate the most about Jett is his eyes. He has a really bright eye, in that he wants you to coach him, but he wants you to like him. "That's OK. We can like him. We don't always have to like what he's doing on the floor. He's a very, very likeable young guy. "And call it the way it is. For he and [junior guard] Jace [How- ard], it can be tougher. But they make it very, very easy to coach them, and you're excited for their successes." Freshman forward Youssef Khayat: "His eyes … man, is he a bright young man. He is just so anxious to do it right. He struggled early, but he was two months behind us, right? "He struggled early with his perimeter shot. That's come around. "Youssef is a badass. He looks like an altar boy, but he's one of those guys who can really, really, really guard. He's dedicated to guarding. "When he walks in the room, he's appreciative. Those for- eign guys … think of what he's giving up. He got off a plane in Paris, and he had never met any of us. "Then he comes here, and we got off the plane on Satur- day, and he's in class on Monday. The rest of us kind of took it for granted. We tossed our passports down and walked through customs. "This kid was asked, 'What else do you have? What other documentation?' We had a bag. He had four bags. He was coming to live here. I just think it's extraordinary. He's young, but he's tough-minded at the defensive end of the floor." — John Borton Phil Martelli Sizes Up The Newcomers Freshman Youssef Khayat is a 6-foot-9 forward from Lebanon who played in France with Limoges CSP and with Lebanon's senior national team. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS