Michigan Basketball: Juwan Howard makes another ambitious offer

Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard hasn’t shied away from big names so far in recruiting and Saturday, he offered another five-star prospect.

Juwan Howard was largely credited by other members of the Fab Five for bringing the group together and getting guys like Chris Webber and Jalen Rose to sign with Michigan basketball.

Howard said he was on the phone constantly, persuading the others to join him and since he has taken over as the head coach of Michigan basketball, he has been a busy guy. 

That is to be expected of course. Michigan is trying to play catch up now and Howard is trying to learn the rules of recruiting, the players and how to actually do it, all at the same time.

Yet, for all the rules, some people are just naturally good at recruiting. It remains to be seen if Howard is one of them, but so far, you have to like his confidence. On Saturday, he made another offer and like his first as UM head coach, it went to a five-star, this time AJ Griffin Jr.

Griffin Jr. is the second top-10 player Howard has offered and he wasn’t alone as Duke, Villanova, Vanderbilt and other schools also offered the No. 8 prospect in the 2021 class Saturday.

Saturday morning was the first time schools were able to directly contact rising juniors, which is why a number of offers ensued. UM contacted a slew of players early, yet offered Griffin Jr.

The White Plains, New York product, is a unique physical specimen and has freakish athletic ability, just watch this dunk he puts down on a follow through. (I’d say UM could use more guys like that).

The 6-foot-7 wing can do more than dunk though and at the NBAPA Top 100 camp this week, he averaged over 20 points a game according to 247 sports. His weekend also included a 23-point performance that saw him go 9-of-15 from the field with three 3-pointers. Here’s more from 247:

"“Griffin is an impressively built wing prospect. At 6-foot-7, he has a strong, chiseled frame and a 7-foot wingspan. He put that frame to good use on Sunday, scoring 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting.  Perhaps what stood out the most was his jump shot, as he buried a trio of three-pointers, including one of the dribble.”"

With the other teams involved, Griffin Jr. will be a tough get but that shouldn’t stop Howard from making the offer. Just as with fellow five-star target Joshua Christopher, why not shoot for the stars?

It’s clear that Howard wants more NBA-caliber players coming to Michigan basketball. Guys that are going to leave after one or two years. That can present some challenges when running a program, but all the big boys have won with those kinds of guys.

Michigan State is a great example. They have guys like Cassius Winston who have stayed and others like Jaren Jackson Jr. who left early and was a lottery pick of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The roster doesn’t have to be made up of all one-and-done type players but with Howard’s recognition and Michigan’s recent success and momentum, it’s a good time to strike.

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The one thing you have to love as a Michigan basketball fan is Howard’s confidence. He truly believes that Michigan is a basketball power and he’s recruiting it as such.

John Beilein had his own way of recruiting and whatever Howard did was going to be different, because literally, no one did it like Beilein. Not offering players until they visited or until he watched them play, were just two examples of his quirky rules.

But hey, it worked for him. That way isn’t going to work for Howard though, who has different strengths and may be able to connect better with these elite players, seeing as he was one 20-some years ago.

Many of these prospects weren’t even alive during the Fab Five era, but they’ve heard of it. That much is clear and the buzz surrounding Howard with players seems notable. They know of his NBA ties and his relationship with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade doesn’t hurt.

Howard also isn’t just out chasing the five-star kids. He has also offered multiple four-stars already and is casting a wide net. But it’s clear Howard will chase elite talent and it’s also clear he believes Michigan basketball can get those kinds of players.

And as a fan of the team, how does that confidence and that bravado, not get you excited? Who knows if he will start landing a bunch of big-name players but regardless, I love the confidence.