After a lifetime rooting and eventually playing for Michigan, Jace Howard will suit up for a different college basketball team.
Howard announced on Tuesday night that he will transfer to Fordham for a final season.
Howard grew up rooting for Michigan because his dad, Juwan, was a star Wolverine in the “Fab Five” recruiting class. By the time Howard graduated high school, his dad was Michigan’s head coach. Jace considered a couple of Ivy League schools but decided to come to Ann Arbor.
His transfer will bring him closer to his dad for next season. Fordham is located in New York, specifically the Bronx; Juwan is an assistant coach with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.
At Michigan, Jace appeared in 70 games over five seasons, averaging 6.8 minutes and 1.4 points per game. The 6-foot-8 forward never regularly cracked the rotation but was a vocal leader throughout his career.
He will be applying, if he hasn’t already, for a medical redshirt after only appearing in five games this past season. His true freshman season in 2020-21 did not count against his eligibility due to the NCAA’s COVID waiver.
Fordham went 12-21 last season, including a 3-15 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Rams have made the NCAA Tournament just twice in the last 70 years, most recently in 1992. Keith Urgo was fired as head coach after last season, his third on the job. He was replaced by Mike Magpayo, who spent the previous five years as the head coach at UC Riverside.
Howard’s experience at Michigan ran the gamut as far as team performance: a Big Ten regular-season title and Elite Eight appearance (2021), a late surge to make the Sweet 16 (2022), a near miss of the NCAA Tournament (2023), an 8-24 season (2024), and a Big Ten Tournament title and Sweet 16 appearance (2025).
Despite his dad getting fired, Howard stuck with the program to play one season for Dusty May.
“These 4+ years have been life changing and I cannot thank you enough,” Howard wrote in a social media post to fans when he entered the transfer portal. “From the wins and losses, championships and injuries, this place has become my second home for life. Playing for Michigan, wearing the Block M, and becoming a Michigan Man was truly a dream come true.”
Several other have Wolverines transferred out after this past season. Starting point guard Tre Donaldson went to Miami. Reserves Justin Pippen (California), Sam Walters (SMU), and Phat Phat Brooks also left.
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