Michigan basketball: How frosh Jett Howard is acclimating to U-M
Michigan basketball overhauled its roster this year, meaning several will get a chance to vie for starting spots. One, freshman wing Jett Howard, finished his career with a bang and will get a long look at the three spot.
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Caleb Houstan’s unexpected departure means playing time is available, and Howard will get his chance. For now, though, he’s concentrating on getting acclimated to the Michigan campus as a student.
“It’s been great. It’s been a smooth transition,” Howard, youngest son of Michigan coach Juwan Howard, said on the Defend the Block Podcast with Brian Boesch. “The hardest thing about this thing is to figure out where everything’s at. It’s been honestly hard to find all these different classes.
“But it’s been fun. You get to figure out the campus a little more. It’s a beautiful campus. SandMan [strength coach Jon Sanderson] has been a little tough on us, Big Dog [Hunter Dickinson] has been a little tough on us. This is what you want, and it’s been great.”
So has working with his dad. For years, he noted, his mother was the one offering pointers and driving to his events while his dad was living the NBA life. Now, he gets a chance to learn from him up close, and he can’t wait.
“I think God my dad is my coach now when I’m in this process, because for one, I kind of understand the practice plan a little bit better,” the Michigan frosh continued. “I understand what he wants … understand how detail oriented he is. From a practice standpoint, it’s been good.
“But I never really got a chance to go walk through campus and figure out where the Diag is, where this building is … the chemistry building. So, I’m happy. I love the dorm setup. We’re starting to meet and socialize with other kids. I like it, personally.”
Jett and Jace Howard will be rare Michigan brother combo
He also likes playing with big brother and Michigan junior Jace Howard. The forward is a bit undersized, but he’s impressed with his energy and his defense, along with his fearlessness.
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None of that comes as a surprise to his little brother, now his Michigan teammate.
“Jace, to his credit, he beat me up from sixth grade to high school. He’s probably still one of the best defenders I play,” he said. “Just getting exposed to that kind of physicality and confrontation at a young age.
“… I haven’t got a chance to thank him for it because our pride gets in the way a little bit, but I definitely thank him for that. Also, he’s been really emotionally supportive guy like my mom, my aunt. She played basketball at UAB.”
She’s the one he goes to for advice a lot when trying to figure out what he’s lacking, he said. She’ll never sugarcoat and always given him an honest opinion. He also credited his “uncle,” late coach Donnie Kirksey out of Chicago, who got the “soft stuff” out of him.
But his brother has been his rock, and will continue to be at Michigan.
“Anything, everything I learned from being a good teammate has come from him and [former Florida State standout and high school teammate] Scottie Barnes,” Howard said. “I would say Jace Howard has been probably the most selfless person on Michigan the past two years. I’ve never seen him complain once about playing time, not getting reps …
“Honestly, I’m taking notes. I just want to see how he reacts to certain things, how he approaches people. How when stuff hits the fan, how he acts. He’s been great. His time is definitely coming I think, personally. I feel like my dad has kind of tested him a little bit throughout these past years, and he’s reacted perfectly.”
That remains to be seen. But they’ll both get their shots for the 2022-23 Michigan team, and the youngest Howard can’t wait to see how it plays out.
