ESPN’s Jalen Rose Woos Bronny James to Michigan Despite LeBron’s Ohio State Fandom

As Bronny James finishes out the final months of his high school career, speculation surrounding his college recruitment continues to heat up. And even though his famous father didn’t play college basketball, it appears the younger James is being wooed to cross rivalry lines.

LeBron James makes no secret his affinity for Ohio State, so naturally the Buckeyes have been viewed as a potential landing spot for Bronny. But one famous alumnus from Ohio State’s rival to the north has other ideas: Jalen Rose.

Rose, who starred at Michigan before embarking on a fruitful 13-year NBA career, used his platform on ESPN’s This Just In on Thursday to make a plea for Bronny to consider the Wolverines as his temporary home before jumping to the pros.

“Now here’s the other thing—he’s probably gonna go to college. Hey, Bronny: There’s a school in Ann Arbor you would fit really good with, you know what I’m saying?” Rose said. “Juwan Howard won a championship with your dad in Miami.”

Rose noted how LeBron is hopeful to be able to play with his son in the league, drawing comparisons to Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. as well as Bobby and Barry Bonds. While there’s no doubting that Rose would love to see the younger James in maize and blue, he conceded that Ohio State would also be a great fit for him—both on and off the court.

“In all honesty, you’ve got to go to Ohio State if you don’t go to Michigan. You’ve got to go live in that big house!” Rose said, referring to the family’s house in Akron, Ohio. “Mom and Dad are in Cali, y’all got the 35,000 square foot crib. He’s got to go to Ohio [State] if he don’t end up in Michigan.”