Page "Juwan Howard" Paragraph 9

In the final days before his senior season decision regarding his college basketball team, Howard wavered between Arizona State and Michigan.

He also made an official visit to Dayton.

Despite the ongoing recruiting scandal, he also made an unofficial visit to the University of Illinois, which had recruited four of the five previous Chicago Public School League Illinois Players of the Year.

At the time of his decision, he was considered one of the top five seniors in the country, but, unlike many top basketball recruits, he decided not to hold a press conference to announce his decision.

Although the official signing period was set for November 14 – 21, 1990, he selected Michigan on November 2.

Howard averaged 26. 9 points, 8. 4 rebounds and 3. 4 assists during his senior season, and finished in the top 10 percent of his academic class.

He had become friends with Jimmy King when they visited Michigan on the same weekend and is said by Chicago Tribune journalists and Michigan coach Fisher to have influenced King's decision to enroll there.

According to Clyde Travis of the Chicago Sun-Times, Howard's verbal commitment made up for the inability of Steve Fisher, Michigan's head coach, to recruit Eric Montross the prior year, even though Montross ' father and grandfather had played for Michigan.

With Jalen Rose, Webber, Howard and King – along with Ray Jackson, a less heralded prospect – the Michigan recruiting class was considered to be the best in the nation.

Some regarded the class as among the greatest recruiting classes of all time.