The offseason just began, but Juwan Howard already has a message for every senior on the Michigan basketball team.
“Our senior class was amazing,” Howard said Thursday afternoon. “We’re truly going to miss them. I hope they remember that it was a free year, so if they choose they want to come back, the invitation is open.”
Howard laughed, then said, “It was fun to coach them, man.”
During a teleconference following his selection as the Associated Press’ Coach of the Year, Howard elected not to delve into offseason topics — understandable, given his team’s season ended Tuesday night against UCLA in the Elite Eight.
But his comments about the senior class suggest Howard could be doing some recruiting in the near future. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to all athletes in Division I winter sports.
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Michigan’s 2020-21 roster, meanwhile, had five seniors: center Austin Davis, guard Eli Brooks, wing Isaiah Livers, point guard Mike Smith and wing Chaundee Brown.
Last Friday, Brooks told the Free Press that he was still contemplating his future.
“I’ve thought about it,” Brooks said. “I talked to my parents. I think at the end of the year, I’m going to sit down and talk with the coaches and find out, talk through it with them, find out what the best fit is for me.”
His father, James, told the Free Press on Thursday that Brooks has yet to make a decision.
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“He has his end-of-season banquet and all that stuff,” James Brooks said. “He was just really focused on the season. I think he’s going to take a little bit of time right here and reflect upon what the future holds. I’m sure it’ll be out in a week or two.”
U-M has the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for 2021, which includes McDonald’s All-Americans Kobe Bufkin (Grand Rapids Christian), Caleb Houstan (Montverde, Florida) and Moussa Diabate (Bradenton, Florida).
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