Jet Howard's college recruitment was unlike most. As Jet was just getting his feet wet in high school,

his father took over a program that already had Jet on its radar, the University of Michigan.

Then there were plenty of conversations that Jet had with other programs with his mom and aunt,

the latter of whom was a college basketball player herself. They were both integral in the process.

It was well known that Tennessee

came pretty darn close to swaying Jets, but he ultimately decided to keep the Howard name exclusively

in the maze in blue. And then shortly after that, Michigan and Tennessee, sure enough,

played in the NCAA tournament last March. Like Jets recruitment, the Wolverines would surge late and get the job done.

Through all that, imagine how many times Jet was in Chrysler Center or watching a game

at Chrysler or thinking about a game at Chrysler.

The idea of getting a chance to play college basketball was surely on the mind of Michigan's

other freshmen, but most of them took several visits,

contemplated what was a long list of offers, and then ultimately decided to come to Ann Arbor.

For Jet, Michigan became a part of his story before he decided to become a part of its.

And if things go the way that both parties hope, Friday's 30-point exhibition performance

will be a very minor footnote, a random, hey, you remember that for Michigan fans that

throughout their decades from now.

But two things on Friday night.

Number one, as you'll hear in his last answer when we talk to him, he surely was not

satisfied by this performance.

That's great.

And two, if you've longed to be out there as a competitor for as long as jet has been zeroed in on Michigan

...