THE POP EXPOSE – Juwan Howard and the Michigan Wolverines!
Story By Mitchell Smith
Juwan Howard was born February 7th 1973 in Chicago, best known as 1 of the Fab Five for the Michigan Wolverines, and now head coach of his alma mater. Howard was born to his teenage mother and raised in the south side of Chicago by his grandmother. Living in the projects is a rough upbringing but Howard’s grandmother Jannie Mae was able to keep him out of trouble and raise him to be an outstanding young man. Howard went to the Chicago Vocational Career Academy where many college recruiters had an eye on him. Howard committed to Michigan University in 1991 and would become part of a team that changed the face of college basketball.
The Fab Five came in and upended college basketball. They ditched the short shorts and played a more playground style highflying and exiting basketball. This is when I first got into college ball and I was instantly in love with the team and the Fab Five. Howard received his degree and was drafted to the NBA in 1994 where he would spend 19 seasons and grab 2 championships with the Miami Heat. When he retired from the NBA he went right into coaching and landed the head spot at Michigan in 2019. He had some controversy this season and was suspended for hitting another coach.
He showed his compassion for the kids and the game as he embraced a kid from Tennessee after emotion took him over from there lose to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. Howard had a hard start in life but showed that against all odds and with perseverance anything can be accomplished. I’m happy for all his accomplishments and can’t wait to see what he does in the future. Tossed in a pic of my hat I bought in 1992.
