Michigan Basketball: What Wolverines are getting with Jace Howard

Michigan basketball added another talented athlete to its 2020 class when Jace Howard announced he will become the newest member of the Wolverines.

Meet Jace Howard, Michigan basketball‘s newest member.

Jace left Gulliver Prep High School to play ball with some of the best. He landed at University School, where he, the 6th overall 2019 prospect Vernon Carey Jr., and the ninth overall 2020 prospect Scotty Barnes were teammates at the high school powerhouse.

According to Jace, it was head coach Jim Carr that lured him in.

“What made me make the move to go to University School was the relationship I have with Coach [Jim] Carr,” Howard told Prep Hoops. “Plus, the big contribution he thinks I can bring to help the school in winning another state championship and getting back to the Geico national championship.”

After coach Jim was relieved of his duties, a name Wolverine fans will recognize entered the picture; Ron Oliver. Ron will mentor both Jace and Jett (the last Howard boy) this season – Jace’s final.

“He has a knack for being a magnet to the basketball,” Oliver said. “Be it rebounding or chasing down loose balls. His energy is contagious.”

Oliver, you may remember, started his collegiate career at Michigan as a guard in 1995 – the year after Juwan left for the NBA.

Ron called Jace a ‘terrific leader’ and a ‘magnificent student’.

Ratings and rankings

Rivals doesn’t provide much in the way of ratings, but they have Jace as a three-star.

247 sports placed Howard at 180th nationally, 33rd at small forward, and 20th from the state of Florida with a 9008 composite rating and three-stars.

Highlights

As you can see, Jace is a talented athlete that will need to put on a few pounds of muscle to fit into the college game, although, at 6-foot-7, he has the necessary frame for college basketball.

Initially, Jace kept his game in the post like his dad but has since moved into the SF role and is hitting more shots from the outside. He’s athletic, quick, and – for the most part – ready for the next level.

What he brings

As stated by his current coach, Jace brings leadership and smarts to the game that is necessary to overcome difficult situations. Coming from behind, defeating unique defensive schemes, and game planning all require the intelligence that Juwan’s son brings to the Wolverines.

Being a realist

Jace isn’t a day one starter like fellow Michigan commits Isaiah Todd and Hunter Dickinson. He doesn’t have the talents of the other extremely gifted individuals that make up the 2020 class.

He’s Juwan’s son, and while he might be in the starting five on a Division I program outside of the Power Five, we likely won’t see him receive significant minutes until he’s an upperclassman.

But you can never sleep on a Howard and those who bad mouth the offer and the commitment will be surprised when Jace becomes a major contributor on his dad’s team down the road.