One advantage of living in Tree Town, with all of its great University of Michigan sports, is the chance to come up in face and personal with the players and coaches. That’s the appeal of the Coaches’ Luncheons put on every Monday at Weber’s Inn during football and basketball seasons. Besides the “big players”, a coach from one of the “non-revenue” sports also shows up (1). During basketball season, Brian Boesch, voice of Michigan basketball, broadcasts his radio show “Inside Michigan Basketball” Mondays from the back room of the Pretzel Bell on Main Street. Usually there are head coaches Juwan Howard (men’s) and Kim Barnes Arico (women’s). Brian’s assisted by Terry Mills, one of the key players on the 1989 National Championship team, also a big fellow. When circumstances take head coaches away, Brian has to improvise, like tonight. Maybe he couldn’t get Juwan, but he got his sons, Jace and Jett, both members of the current team. Jace is a junior, born in Chicago and a member of the Florida state champion University School under former Wolverine Ron Oliver. He made the Academic All-Big 10 team in 2022. Jett is bigger and the better player. He’s a freshman and has started every game at shooting guard, an all-around player who can shoot, defend, and score. He also started in Chicago, had a stellar prep career first at University School with his brother then at IMG academy, emerging as a top 100 prospect. He interviewed at 5 other schools, but his heart was at Michigan. The NBA is already salivating over him, with Michigan fans hoping he’ll stick around with Dad for awhile.
Brian let them talk through what it’s like to be a Big-10 basketball player and son of a famous head coach. Each said their mom was their biggest influence and that they purposely did not go “home” on their days off!
I’d met them briefly as they walked in earlier. As tall men tend to size up each other, I took satisfaction that I was looking down a bit at each. That wasn’t the case when I met their dad a couple years ago, although the photo record suggests this retired doc may have a skosh on this one-time All American and NBA All-star (2). But Jace and Jett were up for a pic with the tall old guy. The U of M roster lists Jace at 6’7” and Jett 6’8”. My doctor’s statiometer puts me at 6’5 ½”. In my playing days, they listed me at 6’9”. Without the thick double socks, it was probably 6’8. Regardless, I’m not getting on a court with those kids, unlike their 50 year old dad whom I’m told still suits up and mixes it up with his players.
References
- Ike B. row row row. WordPress 2/6/23. https://theviewfromharbal.com/2023/02/06/row-row-row/
- Ike B. Juwan and us. WordPress 2/9/20. https://theviewfromharbal.com/2020/02/09/juwan-and-us/
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