Prospects that Juwan Howard has been in contact with during a slow week for Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines have not played a basketball game since Saturday’s overtime loss to Oregon at Crisler Center and will not play again until Saturday afternoon. This has allowed head coach Juwan Howard to do some traveling and work on the recruiting trail this week.

Here are some of the notable names that Howard has been in contact with since the end of last week’s game.

Class of 2020

Five-star guard Joshua Christopher (Lakewood, California)

Christopher has been someone that Howard has been working hard on and if you needed any more proof of that, consider that he flew right out to New York after the Oregon game to watch him play at Madison Square Garden. Christopher took an official visit to Michigan on Nov. 22 and watched the Wolverines put up 111 points in a win over Houston Baptist, so he was able to get a good feel for what Howard’s system may look like when things are humming on all cylinders. UCLA currently leads with 100 percent of the 247Sports Crystal Ball picks, but the recruitment of the nation’s No. 11 overall player figures to go deep into the spring.

Four-star center Hunter Dickinson (Hyattsville, Maryland)

We are not sure if Howard has seen or spoken to Dickinson this week, but that may be happening shortly with the four-star big man set to announce his decision any time now. All of the buzz is currently connecting him to the Wolverines and it seems to be a matter of when he will commit as opposed to when. The No. 34 player in the country. has been a top target for awhile now and it seems he is on the verge of finally dropping.

Class of 2021

Five-star forward Paolo Banchero (Seattle, Washington) and five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler (Memphis, Tennessee)

Howard has been in Florida at the City of Palms tournament that features some of the best high school talent in the country and he has watched both of these guys in the last few days. Both players hold Michigan offers currently as Howard works to get things rolling in the 2021 class, as well. Banchero is the nation’s No. 3 overall player and Chandler comes in at No. 15.

According to Jake Weingarten, Chandler has emerged as a top priority for Michigan in the 2021 cycle. Keep an eye on him, as well as five-star Khristian Lander as the top guard targets for Michigan moving forward.

Class of 2022

Five-star combo guard Skyy Clark (Northridge, California)

Michigan is also getting a head start on the 2022 recruiting class, as well. This week, Howard and the Wolverines extended an offer to five-star guard Skyy Clark, who currently ranks as the No. 18 player in the cycle as a sophomore. Clark is from Eden Prairie, Minnesota and has ties to the midwest and the Wolverines, as he has played AAU basketball with the next name that we mention below.

Four-star shooting guard Jett Howard (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

The Howards may be to Michigan basketball what the Glasgows are to Michigan football. Both of Juwan Howard’s sons in Jace (Class of 2020) and now Jett hold offers from the program. Jett Howard is considered the higher-caliber prospect and is currently the No. 53 overall player in the 2022 cycle. He can play and like his older brother, has no shortage of ties to other prospects from playing on the AAU circuit.