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Isaiah Todd Pledge Confirms Juwan Howard's Recruiting Chops
If this is going to work - the Juwan Howard experiment as a first-time head coach replacing, arguably, the greatest basketball mind in Michigan basketball history - the theory went he would have to be dynamic on the recruiting trail to make up for any deficiencies he might have as an on-court coach.
Howard was hired so late in the process, after John Beilein made an unexpected departure May 13, that he had very little opportunity to recruit the 2019 class. Still, he managed to reel in German-born wing Franz Wagner, younger brother to Wolverine legend Moritz, and, as it now appears, a likely starter for the Maize and Blue in 2019-20.
He couldn't recapture five-star Jalen Wilson, who signed with Kansas, but few expected Howard to pull that rabbit out of a hat.
What was expected (or hoped for by Michigan fans) is that Howard's basketball pedigree -- first as a key member of the Fab Five and then as a first-round draft pick, NBA all-star and 19-year NBA veteran -- his relative youth (he is 46), personality, and ability to relate to urban hoopsters as a native of Chicago himself, would give him the ability to recruit at an elite level.
He might not be able to develop talent as well as Beilein, or install an offense, or prepare his team, or make game-day decisions (though that all remains to be seen), but at the very least he'll be able to recruit, probably better than Beilein, and the name of the game in college basketball is talent.
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski is a Hall of Fame coach, but the reason the Blue Devils are consistently a Top 10 team is because they are always one of the country's most talented teams - Duke has landed 17 five-stars over the 2016-2020 classes and ranked the No. 1 class nationally in the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 classes.
The same goes for Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Michigan State and on and on.
No one is expecting Michigan to join such lofty company (largely because it won't play by the same "rules" as the programs being linked to NCAA violations) but in Howard, the belief is U-M can win its share of five-star battles.
Todd is early evidence the theory could be right.
While Beilein had successes on the recruiting trail - he signed six Top 50 players during his 12-year career in Ann Arbor -- he signed just one five-star per 247Sports.com (Glenn Robinson III in the 2012 class). Robinson was his highest-ranked signee ever, at No. 17 nationally.
Todd is the No. 12 recruit in this 2020 class, and joins guard Zeb Jackson (the No. 62 player in the class per 247Sports.com) to give Howard a solid foundation from which he can continue to add pieces.
There is talk the Wolverines could be in the driver's seat for four-star center Hunter Dickinson (the No. 34 player nationally) and guard Moses Moody (the No. 42 recruit in the 2020 class).
Howard may not get another five-star in this recruiting cycle, but he has established early momentum and buzz for himself and for Michigan.
If the Maize and Blue finish in the top four of the Big Ten this season and make NCAAs -- fair expectations based on the returning talent and experience - Howard will prove he has some coaching skill too, giving more top-end prospects in the 2021 class reason to believe in the Wolverines' and their Fab Five boss.
Todd is the first five-star to commit to Howard, but he probably won't be the last.
