Juwan Howard wants Michigan to be more ‘proactive’ with NIL policy: ‘We can do better’

Within these two competing statements, Michigan strays toward the former and seeks to avoid transactions, an approach that basketball great Juwan Howard appears to have trouble with.

“NIL is one of those things that what they’ve done in the transfer portal has helped some programs,” Howard said in a news conference Thursday. “For us, NIL did not harm the team in terms of recruiting or the transfer portal. Have the conversations been addressed by NIL on recruitment? [though]? Yes, you have. Would I like to see more done for the program along the lines of some of the things that have happened in other basketball programs? Yes.”

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Howard added: “I know it’s going to be a story and that’s okay. Do we have a collective here? no Do other programs have collectives? Yes. At NIL, could we be more proactive and think ahead? Yes.”

Despite Howard’s insistence, NIL has not hurt recruitment, there is evidence to the contrary – at least in football. Four-star linebacker Raylen Wilson was fired in June, and basketball star Hunter Dickinson lamented the school’s lack of effort to adapt.

“They’re going to lose so many players if they don’t start putting themselves at the top,” Dickinson said on a radio appearance in June. “I feel bad for Coach Juwan and Coach Harbaugh for trying. It’s just not their fault. The coaches are definitely trying.”

What is a NIL Collective?

As universities try to navigate an increasingly competitive NIL landscape, some schools have formed ‘collectives’ to spur recruitment.

After players gained the opportunity to make money with their name picture and likeness (NIL) on July 1st, 2021, schools tripped over themselves to start recruiting players with lucrative deals and endorsement promises.

Collectives are often founded by high-profile alumni and operate outside the purview of the university they represent. They generally pool funds from boosters and act almost in an advisory capacity to student athletes.

Howard wants Michigan to have a collective as they have become a reality of recruitment in the modern landscape.

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Will Michigan get a collective?

Michigan has been somewhat evasive about the possibility of there being a collective.

According to sports director Warde Manuel in June, some are “in development”. Around the time of these comments, a collective called “The Champions Circle” was formed that will focus on soccer.

That doesn’t directly address Howard’s concerns about basketball aid, but it does imply aid may be coming to Michigan in the future.

Michigan State and Ohio State both already have collectives, while the entire SEC has at least one per school. In other words, the leaders and the best have to follow a little to catch up.