Jace Howard signs with Michigan, will be on scholarship next season

Jace Howard has seen his scholarship status be up in the air since he committed to play for his father — head coach Juwan Howard — and the Michigan Wolverines. After a whirlwind few weeks that saw some surprising developments on the trail with a pair of five-star recruits, Howard now knows his fate.

According to a report from Josh Henschke of The Michigan Insider, Michigan has received a signed letter of intent from the three-star forward and he will be on scholarship next season, putting Michigan one under the limit of 13 players for the 2020-21 season (chart here).

Last week, Henschke reported that Howard was set to join the team as a walk-on, which left an open slot coming into the week for the potential of elite guard Josh Christopher. When the nation’s 10th-ranked prospect surprised everyone and chose Arizona State on Monday night, that spot remained open. Howard had even joked on an Instagram Live video by fellow commit Zeb Jackson if it meant he could be a scholarship player again.

Howard is a three-star prospect and the nation’s 351st-ranked player, per the 247Sports Composite. His re-addition to the class bumps them up from No. 12 to No. 8 in the country with other commits including four-star center Hunter Dickinson, four-star forward Terrance Williams and four-star guard Zeb Jackson. Dickinson is the lone unsigned prospect, but is expected to do so and Michigan should be formally announcing its 2020 class by the end of the week.