{"id":49672,"date":"2023-04-10T11:15:14","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T15:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=49672"},"modified":"2023-04-10T11:01:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-10T15:01:54","slug":"michigan-basketball-juwan-howard-changing-recruiting-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/04\/10\/michigan-basketball-juwan-howard-changing-recruiting-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Basketball: Juwan Howard Changing Recruiting Strategy?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Michigan Wolverines had a disappointing 2022-23 season, although they did finish with their fourth straight winning season under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/coaches\/juwan-howard-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Juwan Howard<\/strong><\/a> at 18-16. The Wolverines, who finished fifth in the Big Ten, lost in the conference tournament\u2019s first and NIT\u2019s second rounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the season, the Wolverines lost <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/hunter-dickinson-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Hunter Dickinson<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/isaiah-barnes-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Isaiah Barnes<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the transfer portal. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/jett-howard-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Jett Howard <\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/kobe-bufkin-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Kobe Bufkin<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have entered the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/03\/23\/march-madness-top-5-guard-prospects-for-nba-draft\/\" target=\"_self\">2023 NBA draft<\/a> and are not expected to return. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/joey-baker-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Joey Baker <\/b><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has exhausted his eligibility, although he and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/jaelin-llewellyn-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Jaelin Llewellyn<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <a href=\"http:\/\/Michigan guard Jaelin Llewellyn reveals plans for 2023-24 season (247sports.com)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">who is planning on returning<\/a>, are seeking another year due to medical issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Michigan guard Jaelin Llewellyn plans to return to the program in 2023-24, he tells me. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re working on my medical redshirt, but it\u2019s definitely looking like it\u2019ll happen. I just can\u2019t wait to be back on the court doing what I can.\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QZhYZf40iW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/QZhYZf40iW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Alejandro Z\u00fa\u00f1iga (@ByAZuniga) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ByAZuniga\/status\/1642224669930708992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 1, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Llewellyn appeared in eight games before tearing his ACL. Meanwhile, Baker only played in four games back in 2017-18.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Michigan Basketball: Juwan Howard Changing Recruiting Strategy?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Howard, a fantastic recruiter, has responded positively since losing his three top players \u2013 Dickinson, Howard, and Bufkin. Howard has picked up commitments for three transfers, with former UNC guard <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/caleb-love-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Caleb Love<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Seton Hall transfer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/tray-jackson-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Tray Jackson<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pledging their commitments on April 7.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since taking over his <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/03\/31\/2023-ncaa-tournament-ranking-coaches-and-players-in-final-four\/\" target=\"_self\">alma mater<\/a> in 2019, each of Howard\u2019s recruiting classes has ranked in the top 65 of the nation. Howard\u2019s last three recruiting classes have each ranked in the top 15. The 2021 recruiting class is his highest-rated at No. 3 in the country. The Wolverines had seven consensus top 100 players on their roster last season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/college\/michigan\/basketball\/juwan-howards-reputation-as-a-recruiter-not-damaged-by-recent-developments-michigan-wolverines-basketball-recruiting\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sports Illustrated Director of Recruiting Jason Jordan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> details why Howard is a great recruiter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Every kid I talk to loves Juwan Howard or, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">their dad<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> loves Juwan Howard,&#8221; Jordan explained. &#8220;Juwan is a players\u2019 coach. Kids talk to him one time, even on the phone, literally, one time, and Michigan is on the list. He\u2019s done an amazing job in year one. You couldn\u2019t script a foundation for future recruiting and a reputation, which is everything, any better.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Howard has been great at recruiting high school kids, he hasn\u2019t spent much time on transfers. Howard has signed six transfers in his first four seasons in Ann Arbor, including just one in the last two classes. However, his recruiting philosophy may be changing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michigan already has three transfers in the fold in 2023 and two incoming freshmen. The Wolverines\u2019 upcoming recruiting class is ranked 30th in the nation and 24th on the transfer market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0After picking up a commitment from former Alabama guard<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/nimari-burnett-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b> Nimari Burnett<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> last week, Howard secured the services of\u00a0 Jackson and Love on Friday. Howard is also reportedly in hot pursuit of several other transfers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the big thing this offseason is for the Wolverines to get their culture back to where it needs to be, according to forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/will-tschetter-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Will Tschetter<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe big thing is getting our culture back where it needs to be,\u201d Tschetter told <a href=\"https:\/\/247sports.com\/college\/michigan\/Article\/Michigan-basketball-decisions-Hunter-Dickinson-Kobe-Bufkin-Jett-Howard-means-offseason-overhaul-for-Wolverines-Juwan-Howard-207731450\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Michigan Insider<\/a> on Saturday. \u201cFrom a team aspect, make sure that everyone is getting better, everyone knows what they need to do in order for us to win. Getting back to where we need to be.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><strong>Committed Transfers\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4><b>Caleb Love, North Carolina\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Love, who spent three seasons at UNC, projects to be the Wolverines\u2019 starting two-guard. The 6-4 guard is a high-volume scorer who is below-average defensively. The former five-star recruit doesn\u2019t shoot the three well though 46% of his career attempts are from beyond the arc. He is a capable distributor, gets to the free-throw line, and has improved his shooting percentage each season.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Tray Jackson, Seton Hall\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jackson, a Detroit native, will finish his collegiate career with Michigan. He played one year at Missouri and three seasons at Seton Hall. The 6-10 forward projects to get some minutes off the bench at both the four and five for the Wolverines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jackson is below average offensively though he can stretch the floor, as a career 35.5% 3-point shooter. He is also a good offensive rebounder.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><b>Nimari Burnett, Alabama<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Burnett, a former five-star recruit, is making his third collegiate start. The former five-star recruit played 12 games at Texas Tech after suffering an ACL injury and then appeared in 27 contests for Alabama. He should be an impact player for UM, which is why he chose the Wolverines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cKnowing Juwan Howard, knowing the roster structure there, and knowing the type of culture that he has there,\u201d Burnett explained to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maizenbrew.com\/2023\/4\/5\/23671135\/michigan-basketball-nimari-burnett-alabama-juwan-howard\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MaizenBrew<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201cYou came into this situation to better yourself as a player and as a person,\u201d \u201cAlthough I have done that, I do think I can get even better in a better situation.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Burnett is an outstanding defender. The 6-4 guard is not a great shooter though he showed improvement this past season. He does need to improve his 3-point shooting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Transfers the Wolverines are Pursuing\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michigan is reportedly interested in several other transfers. However, the Wolverines may not have any scholarships available unless someone else departs. The Wolverines have 12 players on scholarship, including incoming freshmen\u00a0 \u2013 <\/span><b>George Washington III<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Papa Kante<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They won\u2019t have any scholarships available if Llewellyn returns.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Yohan Traore, Auburn<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/yohan-traore-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Yohan Traore<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a 6-10 center, entered the transfer on April 4 after one season at Auburn. The\u00a0 5-star 2022 recruit averaged 2.1 points and 1.2 rebounds in less than 10 minutes a game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Chris Ledlum, Harvard<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Michigan reached out to Harvard transfer<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/chris-ledlum-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b> Chris Ledlum<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on March 23. Ledlum is a three-level scorer, although he is not a great shooter and a ferocious rebounder. The athletic 6-6 forward averaged 18.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks last year. He produced a shooting slash line of .473\/.294\/.643.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Hunter Sallis, Gonzaga<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/hunter-sallis-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hunter Sallis<\/a> is a 6-5 guard who spent the past two seasons at Gonzaga. The former 5-star recruit made strides last year in his game overall. Sallis is a fantastic shooter though he does need to improve from beyond the arc.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tamar Bates, Indiana<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michigan reached out to Indiana transfer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/tamar-bates-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tamar Bates<\/a> over a week ago. The 6-5 guard is not a great shooter, but he showed tremendous improvement last season, knocking down 37.4% of his 3-point attempts this past season.<\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Indiana transfer Tamar Bates heard from the following schools yesterday, following his entry to the transfer portal, he told <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stockrisers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Stockrisers<\/a>: <\/p>\n<p>Mizzou, Iowa State, K-State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Michigan, Creighton, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Wichita State, others.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jake (@jakeweingarten) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jakeweingarten\/status\/1641455362816765960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 30, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Michigan Wolverines had a disappointing 2022-23 season, although they did finish with their fourth straight winning season under Juwan Howard at 18-16. The Wolverines, who finished fifth in the Big Ten, lost in the conference tournament\u2019s first and NIT\u2019s second rounds.\u00a0 Following the season, the Wolverines lost Hunter Dickinson and Isaiah Barnes to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":49690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,773,2,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","category-featured","category-news"],"modified_by":"Kevin Nivek","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49672\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}