Michigan Basketball: Juwan Howard appeals to big guys in recruiting

Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard is finding his own identity on the recruiting trail and one thing he’s selling in his ability to develop big men.

Although Juwan Howard has been the head coach of Michigan basketball for a short time, it’s plain to see there are some clear difference in recruiting between the former Fab Five member and John Beilein, the Wolverines all-time winningest coach.

Beilein was very methodical in how he recruited players. He wanted to watch them play in person, have them visit the campus and then he would extend an offer. In some recruitments, it put Michigan basketball out of the running.

Howard has changed that. Whether it’s recruits from the 2020 class or 2021, Howard hasn’t been shy about going after the best. He has offered a bunch of five-star prospects and even the four-star offers he extended went to top-50 guys like Jari Abdur-Rahim and Hunter Dickinson.

Dickinson just got an offer a couple of days ago from Howard and one reason why the Wolverines seem to have a shot is that the 7-foot-2 center is impressed with Howard’s work with guys in the NBA.

According to UMHoops, which interviewed Dickinson, he was already high on the Wolverines, but with Howard, his interest seems piqued even more. Here’s he told the UMhoops website ($):

"“I was pretty high on Michigan when Coach Beilein was there. And so, when they hired Juwan Howard, I was pretty interested in that hiring because — since he’s a big man and he played in the NBA for a while, I feel like he would be a good coach that could potentially get me to the NBA. Howard has) just been talking about how he feels like, with my skill set and my game, he’s one of the best people that could help develop me and get me to where I want to be.”"

This was a point I made when talking about the offer earlier this week because it just makes sense. Howard, who played 19 years in the NBA, was also an assistant for six years with the Miami Heat and played an essential role in the development of Hassan Whiteside as a max-contract player.

That is probably what has generated interest among recruits who are hoping to get to the NBA and for Dickinson, a guy ranked 30th overall in his class, one big year with Howard at Michigan basketball could do wonders for his NBA draft stock.

“It’s pretty intriguing,” Dickinson added to UMHoops ($). “I feel like what he’s done in his playing career and also in his coaching career with the Heat is something I’ve looked at and I’ve taken notice.”

Walker Kessler, a five-star big man from 2020, also has taken notice of Howard at Michigan and that’s why the Wolverines seem to be back among the favorites for one of the top players from Georiga. He also indicated to Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider ($) he would be visiting UM.

While both Kessler and Dickinson have some touch, neither is a high-level 3-point shooter, especially Dickinson. His range maxes out at around 15 feet. Yet, both players are skilled in the post and if Howard plans on using a two-big offense, those kinds of players could come in handy.

The Wolverines need to find athletic wings at both the three and the four as well, but it also appears with Howard, and his history of developing centers in the NBA, Michigan is going to have a built-in advantage with big guys.