He’s a “Variety Shooter”
It’s one thing to be a good shooter. It’s another thing to be a good movement shooter, especially at 6-foot-8. That describes Howard, who has the whole package from a shooting perspective. As a freshman at Michigan this past season, he made threes in every which way (off pindown and flare screens, off handoffs, in transition, step-backs, shake and raises, etc.). Overall, he shot a shade under 37 percent from beyond the arc and his 78 threes were third most in the Big Ten.
He’s an Underrated Playmaker
Dug McDaniel and fellow 2023 NBA draftee Kobe Bufkin were Michigan’s primary playmakers this past season. But Howard, in limited instances, showed that he can orchestrate an offense when asked to. Being unselfish is a big reason for that. But also, he has good vision, instincts, and timing, which were glaring in a game against Northwestern on Jan. 15 when he dished out seven assists.
He Played For His Dad and With His Brother in College
His father and college coach Juwan Howard played one of his 19 NBA seasons with the Orlando Magic. In 2003-04, he appeared in 81 games and averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. He was an All-Star in his second NBA season with the Washington Bullets and then ended his playing career with back-to-back NBA championships with the Miami Heat. Jett’s older brother Jace Howard was a junior this past year with the Wolverines.
He Played on Several Star-Studded High School Basketball Teams
Howard grew up in South Florida while his dad was a player and then assistant coach with the Heat. He spent his first two high school years at NSU University School in Davie, Florida. In his freshman year, playing alongside his brother Jace, current Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, current Utah Jazz center Vernon Carey Jr., and fellow 2023 NBA draftee Taylor Hendricks, they won the Class 5A state championship. Following his sophomore season, Howard transferred to IMG Academy, where he was teammates with fellow 2023 NBA draftees Jarace Walker and Keyonte George. His new Magic teammate Jonathan Isaac played at IMG Academy a few years earlier.
He’s Already a Movie Star
Earlier this month, NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock released Shooting Stars, a film about LeBron James’ high school basketball team from the early 2000s. Mookie Cook, a 2023 five-star basketball recruit who will be playing at Oregon next season, played James in the movie. Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, played the role of Romeo Travis, one of James’ closest friends and high school teammates. Howard, meanwhile, played Carmelo Anthony, one of the other elite high school basketball prospects in the country during that era. Anthony would go on to win a national collegiate title at Syracuse and become a perennial NBA All-Star.