.jpg) Howard withMichigan in 2023 | |
| No. 13 – Orlando Magic | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard /small forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2003-09-14)September 14, 2003 (age 21) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Michigan (2022–2023) |
| NBA draft | 2023: 1st round, 11th overall pick |
| Selected by theOrlando Magic | |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023–present | Orlando Magic |
| 2023–2024 | →Osceola Magic |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Jett Howard (born September 14, 2003) is an American professionalbasketball player for theOrlando Magic of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He played the2022–23 season forMichigan in college, before being selected in the first round of the2023 NBA Draft. He is the son of formerNCAA All-American,NBA All-Star andNBA championJuwan Howard (hiscoach at Michigan) and has three older brothers who play or playedNCAA Division Icollege basketball.
In high school, he won aFlorida High School Athletic Association (FHSSA) Class 5A State championship as a freshman atNSU University School. As a junior he transferred toIMG Academy, where the team made back to back runs to the high school national final four. He was both aJordan Brand Classic and an Iverson Roundball Classic honoree/participant.
Jett Howard attendedNSU University School for his freshman and sophomore seasons from 2018 to 2020, before transferring toIMG Academy for his junior and senior seasons from 2020 to 2022.[1][2] His brother Jace played his junior and senior seasons with him for NSU University from 2018 to 2020.[3] The 2018–19 NSU University team, which includedVernon Carey Jr.,Scottie Barnes andTaylor Hendricks as well as the Howard brothers, successfully defended itsFHSSA Class 5A State championship with a victory overAndrew Jackson High School, despite Carey being sidelined for the championship game.[4][5] Howard participated in 3USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamps as well as a USA U16 National Team training camp in 2018 and 2019.[6]
At IMG, Howard and teammatesJaden Bradley and Michigan Wolverine commitMoussa Diabaté went to the 2021 Geico National Semifinals where they lost to Sunrise Christian Academy. Despite the loss,Paul Biancardi ofESPN described Howard as the "best shooter on the floor".[7] With teammatesKeyonte George andJarace Walker, Howard and IMG lost the 2022 National semifinals to theDariq Whitehead-ledMontverde Academy.[8]
Howard participated in the April 2022Jordan Brand Classic despite being the 37th-ranked player and 11th-ranked player at his position in the national class of 2022.[9] By May, Howard had slipped to the 40th slot in the National Class of 2022, but he excelled as theMVP of theAllen Iverson Roundball Classic despite the participation of seven top-20 players (George,Cason Wallace,Kel'el Ware, Walker,Brandon Miller, Arterio Morris andAnthony Black) on a 20-point 9-for-12 shooting performance. Iverson andJ. R. Smith were among those who were impressed by Howard.[10][11]
Despite having a major college basketballhead coach (Juwan Howard) for a father, he pushed for a normal recruiting process.[12] Howard had several offers from major conference schools, including fourSEC schools (Florida,Tennessee,Vanderbilt andLSU) as well as Michigan,Georgetown andNC State.[13] Howard visited Tennessee in September 2021 and almost committed to them.[14][15] His inner circle for his decision making included his mother and aunt, who accompanied him on school visits,[16] unlike his father who was competing for his commitment.[17] On October 13, 2021, Howard committed to play for his father and with his brother Jace for theMichigan Wolverines men's basketball team.[16][18][19] On November 13, 2021, Howard and other members of Michigan's class of 2022 (Gregg Glenn, Dug McDaniel and Tarris Reed Jr.) signed theirNational Letters of Intent.[20]
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jett Howard SF | Bradenton, FL | IMG Academy | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Oct 13, 2021 | |
Star ratings:Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 87 | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals:46 (8 SG) 247Sports:43 (14 SF) ESPN:44 (13 SF) | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
.jpg)
Howard played his freshman season for theMichigan Wolverines. Michigan began the season on November 7, 2022, with a 75–56 victory overPurdue Fort Wayne. Howard contributed 21 points in his debut,[21] becoming the first Wolverine to debut with 20-plus points sinceJamal Crawford posted 21 on November 19, 1999.[22] In his first week of play, he earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week recognition for the week ending November 13, 2022.[23] By early January, he was being mentioned as a future2023 NBA draft lottery pick.[24][25] Howard posted a season-high 34 points on January 12, 2023, againstIowa, including Michigan's first 11 points and his first 5three-pointers.[26] Howard was Michigan's second-leading scorer with 14.2 points per game and led the Wolverines with 78 made three-pointers. Following the regular season, he earned All-Big Ten third-team recognition from the media and honorable mention recognition from the coaches as well as All-Freshman recognition from the coaches, marking the fifth consecutive season that Michigan has had an All-Freshman honoree followingMoussa Diabaté,Hunter Dickinson,Franz Wagner andIgnas Brazdeikis.[22][27] His 2.7 three-point shots made per game was second in the Big Ten.[28]
On March 23, 2023, Howard announced he would forgo his remaining eligibility and declared for the 2023 NBA draft.[29]
TheOrlando Magic selected Howard eleventh overall in the2023 NBA draft.[30] Howard debuted against theHouston Rockets on October 25, posting an assist.[31][32] In his next appearance, three games later on October 31 against theLos Angeles Clippers, he posted his first basket following a rebound.[33][34] By November 20, Howard had only appeared in 5 of the team's first 13 games for just 4.6 minutes per game. Thus, the team assigned him to itsG League affiliate,Osceola Magic.[35] In his November 22, G League debut, he posted 34 points with 7 three-point shots made against theRio Grande Valley Vipers atBert Ogden Arena.[36] Howard went back and forth between the NBA and the G-League posting 19 points in 39 minutes over his first 10 NBA appearances and averaging 24.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in his first six G League starts.[37]
During the 2024 preseason, theOrlando Magic veterans showed inconsistent shooting while Howard, shot well. Howard had the drawback of suspect defense.[38] In the third game of the season on October 26, 2024, with Howard serving asFranz Wagner's primary backup, Howard posted 11 points in 11:33 of playing time against theMemphis Grizzlies.[39][40] On November 3, in a loss to theDallas Mavericks, Howard scored 12 points, just behind Wagner's team-high 13.[41] On January 5, with the top four scorers (Wagner,Moe Wagner,Jalen Suggs andPaolo Banchero) for the Magic sidelined, Howard posted a career high 21 points against theUtah Jazz.[42]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Orlando | 18 | 0 | 3.7 | .333 | .280 | .500 | .4 | .3 | .1 | .1 | 1.6 |
| Career | 18 | 0 | 3.7 | .333 | .280 | .500 | .4 | .3 | .1 | .1 | 1.6 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Orlando | 2 | 0 | 4.9 | .667 | 1.000 | — | .5 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 2.5 |
| Career | 2 | 0 | 4.9 | .667 | 1.000 | — | .5 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 2.5 | |
Howard was born in Chicago on September 14, 2003, to Jenine and Juwan Howard.[6][43] His father had a 21-year career in the NBA before becoming theMichigan Wolverines basketball head coach at his alma mater, and was playing for the Orlando Magic at the time of Jett's birth. He was an NCAA All-American as well as an NBA All-Star and champion.[44][45] His half-brother, Juwan Howard Jr. (son of Juwan Howard andMHSAA basketball champion Markita Blyden), was a two-time All-Horizon League 2nd team selection for theDetroit Titans in 2014 and 2015.[46][47] His other half-brother, Josh Howard (son of Juwan Howard and Tabatha Johnson), played four years (2016–20) for theBrown Bears ofBrown University.[48][49] His brother Jace played at Michigan with him.[50] His father is cousins with Angela Jackson, mother of NBA athletesJalen McDaniels andJaden McDaniels, making him second cousins with them.[51]
In the 2023LeBron James biopicShooting Stars, Howard portrayedCarmelo Anthony, as a high school rival of James.[52]