The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 41 JETT HOWARD MOVING ON TO NBA; TEAM FACES REBUILD IN 2023-24 It was a tough finish for a preseason top-25 team that dealt with plenty of adversity. The difficulties started in De- cember when starting point guard Jaelin Llewellyn suffered a second-ending knee injury in Michigan's 73-69 loss to Ken- tucky at London, England. That forced McDaniel into a bigger role with Bufkin as the No. 2 point guard. Jett Howard missed a few games in the Big Ten season with injuries to both ankles, including a huge home game with Purdue (a 75-70 loss) and the last eight minutes against Michigan State, a win for the Wolverines. But one of the biggest blows to their NCAA Tournament chances came in De- cember and was self-inflicted — a home loss to Central Michigan. The Quad 4 loss to a poor Mid-American Conference team ensured the Wolverines would have to make it up with a few big wins, at least one on the road, and they just couldn't get enough of them. Their NCAA hopes were dashed for good with a loss to Rutgers in their first Big Ten Tournament game. "I feel that throughout this season with the adversity that we've been through, I think we grew from it," Juwan Howard said. "No, really … trust me. We did grow from it. I wouldn't want to be with any other group but this group of young men that I'm so proud of. "None of them from Day 1 has ever pointed the finger at one another or blamed this guy, that guy, or the coach. I'm so proud of how we always talk about be- ing a family, and family was truly tested today … tested through- out the season." And as he said, the offseason will be dedicated to getting bet- ter … at least those who choose to stay. Jett Howard announced March 23 he'd be moving on to the NBA, telling ESPN.com he'd made it his goal before the year started to be a one-and-done. Howard said he played much of the Big Ten season at 50 to 60 percent due to ankle injuries and had seen a specialist after the Big Ten Tour- nament. "This was a great learning year for me," he said. "It's what I needed. It taught me how to play within a pro-style offense and be effective, to get out of my comfort zone, and play with other good players. … "I didn't know how much time I would have at Michigan, so I wanted to make the most of it. It was a unique situation here with my brother [Jace] and dad. I didn't want to take this time for granted, which meant playing through injuries. My thought process was if I could do something out there to impact the game, if I could help my team win a few more games and make the NCAA Tournament, I was going to do that." Now, he's off to the NBA for his shot at the next level with his dad's blessing. "He said it without saying it; it might be time for you to go," the younger How- ard said. "This was easy, for him to let go. He asked around and came to the con- sensus that I should leave." Others will have decisions to make, too. Dickinson isn't a projected NBA Draft pick and he's reportedly thriving with name, image and likeness (NIL) deals. He could return for his senior year in pursuit of that elusive national championship. Bufkin quickly moved up NBA Draft boards with his play this year, some pro- jecting him as a top-20 pick. He could test the waters, too. Meanwhile, the coaches are petition- ing to get grad student wing transfer Joey Baker back for a second year at U-M. He had some nice moments down the stretch, including a 22-point game (5 threes) in the NIT win over Toledo. "Michigan is a great school academi- cally," Howard said. "Joey, being at Duke — academically he qualifies. There are also a few other hurdles that we have to dive deep into. We're going to try hard. We're going to give it our best shot. "We would love to have him back, and not just because of the shooting … just overall, the person. He just fits in the locker room. The guys enjoy playing with him." Llewellyn, too, might be able to return, though Howard said get- ting him back to full health would be their first priority. They've reached out to prospects in the transfer portal, as well, and have begun the quest to shape the 2023-24 roster. Regardless of who stays, goes, or enters, Howard has one thing in mind for next year's squad. "We talk about family, and that truly is something that is not just a word with us," he said. "I see the togetherness built on the fact that the culture … you can easily have a team be so divided when things as far as your goals you put out as a team [aren't] accomplished." That didn't happen this year, he insisted, and won't on his watch. There's plenty to rebuild, but Michigan could still have a strong nucleus should guys decide to stick around. That provides hope that this year's tournament ab- sence was just an aberration and that the Wolverines will get back to winning at the level to which they've become accustomed. ❏ Freshman Jett Howard declared for the NBA Draft after the sea- son ended in March. He finished as the team's leading three-point shooter (making 78 of 212 attempts, 2.7 per game) and its second- leading scorer with 14.2 points per game. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL