[Marc-Grégor Campredon]

Jett Howard to NBA Comment Count

Seth March 23rd, 2023 at 6:10 PM

It won't be among the greatest careers by the Howard family at Michigan, but it's also hard to argue it's not the best thing for him. After one season of playing for Dad, Jett Howard is off to play for a paycheck.

Jett's single season in Ann Arbor demonstrated the kind of rising outside shot that the NBA covets. By midseason, his scoring ability had draft observers talking about a lottery pick, which is an opportunity few could pass up. But as the season went along, and as it became harder not to notice Michigan often looked better in games Jett missed—including the NIT run, apparently by choice—than those he played in, that draft stock started slipping. Dogged by questions about his focus, effort, and most of all defense—none of these plagues exactly rare among true freshmen—there was some hope he might help his dad out by coming back to develop his skills.

Unfortunately for Michigan, those aspects of his game are relatively less important to the NBA than scoring. And there's no doubt that Jett did plenty of it, with a smooth as silk jumper he could unleash from virtually anywhere. That alone makes Howard a better prospect right now than last year's early entries Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan. He can also point at injuries to either ankle that slowed down his production in the second half. It's hard to imagine a mid-round NBA team would pass up that all-important size, shooting, and athletic upside, or fear a few years of development in the G-League. Neither do I fault Jett for passing up a chance to do his pops and us a solid so he can start earning his own money from the skills he's been developing for longer than Juwan has been coaching.

What's good for Jett unfortunately sucks for Michigan. It's one thing to grit through a true freshman's growing pains, especially if he's offsetting them by filling the bucket. It's another to make it to the other end of those growing pains with nothing to show for it. And then have it happen the next year. Just as they did with Houstan last year, Michigan spent a season experiencing up a talented young wing, and there will be no payoff year to follow.

They still await word from Hunter Dickinson and Kobe Bufkin. The former seems likelier to return given the NIL potential at Michigan is probably better than what awaits in his pro career. The latter played himself into a potential first rounder before a practice injury knocked Kobe out of the NIT. Bufkin could leave as well to get a jump toward his second NBA contract, or he could stick around and hope to Jaden Ivey his way into the Lottery. Both options seem equally good for him. It would be nice for Michigan if they didn't have to replace yet another lead guard, especially since next-year Bufkin projects to an even bigger game-changer than next-year Howard.

Either way, expect Juwan to be shopping for wings in the portal. Wofford PF BJ Mack is a likely candidate to fill last season's sore four-spot. Even if they can get another year for Joey Baker and see good things in the development of Youssef Khayat, they're now in the market for a three as well.

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Comments

MJ14

March 23rd, 2023 at 10:16 PM ^

Sounds like Kobe is back. Kobe and Dug will be there starters at the two guard positions. Hunter is 50-50, he’s been vocal about Michigan NIL not being great. If they make a push like they did with Corum on the football side, it would mean more to Hunter. Michigan would be able to keep him for another year. 

Jordan2323

March 23rd, 2023 at 6:21 PM ^

He will be a top 15 pick most likely this year and would be a top 5 pick next year with improvement with his defense and handle. I’ve looked at the 2024 mock nba draft and he’s better than most of those kids they’ve got projected early. This seems like Houstan and Diabate all over again where they were gone at the end of the year no matter what. That has to cause team issues along the way 

Erik_in_Dayton

March 23rd, 2023 at 6:24 PM ^

I certainly wish Jett the best.  It can't be easy to play for your dad in front of millions of people.

B.J. Mack is an interesting player.  I've watched a decent amount of his highlights.  He reminds me a little of Draymond Green.  He handles the ball and passes well for a man of his size, though I don't mean to suggest that he'll match Green on those fronts (and he certainly won't match Green on defense).  He is tough in the post--at least against smaller guys--and he can shoot.  He also seemed mature in a quick interview that I watched.  And we could make "Return of the Mack" jokes all year.

DennisFranklinDaMan

March 23rd, 2023 at 6:33 PM ^

I like the final warning in the article. Trying to ward off the inevitable bile that appears in these comments. 

Jett's Michigan career, obviously, didn't end up being quite what we all hoped, but it gave him the platform to the NBA, so good for him -- and every single Michigan player that goes in the first round helps us a bit in future recruiting, so good for us.

Onwards and upwards!

UofM Die Hard …

March 23rd, 2023 at 7:47 PM ^

I mean, I guess it helps with one and done recruits who only see Michigan as a pit stop for a cup of coffee,  then peace out. But  clearly that has not been working out well for the program in terms of on court success. 
 

so yay….maybe we get more one and dones who leave before Michigan reaps ANY rewards from those type of players.  “Wave tiny white flag” 

 

Not hating on your comment, sorry if it came off that way, just a SUPER frustrating cycle we are on right now. 

rc90

March 23rd, 2023 at 9:45 PM ^

Yes, even something like a sophomore Dug and maybe a junior/senior Tschetter makes this workable. Amaker and Ellerbe had some forgettable teams, so maybe it makes sense that I can't remember much about the era, but I really don't think even they had this problem where only four guys can play and the rest of the team is pretty much a void.

Glennsta

March 24th, 2023 at 7:05 AM ^

The results (in W&L) were disappointing, considering his obvious talent. However, I would never get on an individual athlete unless it becomes really clear that they're not trying their best. And I never felt that way with him. He could seem to lose focus sometimes, but, as said above, no more than the typical freshman. He developed his game, albeit somewhat inconsistently, and I'm sure that he'd recognize that he needs to work on consistency.

I wish him well. I hope his game develops further and he has a long career.

lilpenny1316

March 23rd, 2023 at 6:41 PM ^

Good luck to the young man. He's more NBA ready than last year's early enrollees. I will say that after Grant Hill's career went sideways after his ankle issues, I don't blame him one bit for leaving. And I don't blame his dad for telling him to go.

Blue Vet

March 23rd, 2023 at 6:51 PM ^

What Seth said: Jett deserves to make the decision he and his family think are best for him. 

What I add: Though I wish he stayed longer, I was glad to see him playing for Michigan this year. 

Good wishes and good luck.

Jonesy

March 23rd, 2023 at 6:52 PM ^

Getting rather tired of players who leave before their breakout year. Not mad at them, just not fun for us. This one is almost as rough as Caris as Jett was pretty good when he wasn't injured. We need to only recruit good players with one flaw that will keep them out of the NBA, heh.

907_UM Nanook

March 23rd, 2023 at 7:23 PM ^

I'd like to wish Jett the utmost success at the next level, thank him for coming to play for his Dad, and go get paid. I'm also happy as a fan, as next year's defense/passing could improve - but serious downgrade in shooting.

DaftPunk

March 23rd, 2023 at 7:44 PM ^

I hope he has a successful career, but I won't miss him much.

He's excoriated for his lack of D, but I found his poor court sense more vexing for such an "offensive prodigy."  If his shot wasn't there, whether from three or on the drive, he rarely dished it in a way that created another opportunity for the team.

Maybe that would have developed here, maybe it won't matter in such a one-on-one league as the NBA, but he's got a long way to go.  Hopefully he'll get there. I'm guessing he needs to get out of his father's shadow, and let someone else give him the constructive criticism, and make his own millions.

Wolverine 73

March 23rd, 2023 at 7:55 PM ^

Are we just unlucky?  Or are other schools having the same experience with one and done’s contributing little for a year and bolting for the NBA?  Certainly is disappointing.

SanDiegoWolverine

March 23rd, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^

Why does nobody talk about how 2024 is going to be a historically bad draft and there's a pretty big advantage to waiting a year. This year's draft is absolutely loaded and next year's draft looks like the Anthony Bennett draft. 

Solecismic

March 23rd, 2023 at 8:19 PM ^

This really says nothing about Jett and Kobe and everything about the mess we call college basketball right now. It's not entertaining. There are few compelling story lines. The S16 is going on right now, and I'd rather our local CBS station stop pre-empting Jeopardy. I can't recall a season I enjoyed less.

So if they're lottery picks, they should go, absolutely. Can't say I understand why, but NBA teams don't pay talent evaluators to get this sort of thing wrong.