From the moment Juwan Howard was hired to coach the program he once played for, pundits far and wide predicted Michigan would be a factor for a higher percentage of elite prospects than it had in decades. That effect was immediate, as the Wolverines became an immediate factor in the recruitment of several five-star prospects. The very first one he targeted with a scholarship was Lakewood (Calif.) Mayfair five-star shooting guard Joshua Christopher.

Today, on his dad Laron Christopher’s birthday, Christopher is expected to let the basketball world know whether Howard (or one of the other coaches in his final group) got his man.

It was through dad that Michigan entered the picture back in the summer.

“The Michigan situation wasn’t on our radar… or we weren’t on theirs,” Mr. Christopher told The Michigan Insider back in November. “I don’t know how it slipped, but when Coach Howard comes into the situation, he looks at Josh and sees that this (should be) his first offer. I thought that that was quite significant.”

Upon engaging the younger Christopher directly the Wolverines found an elite target that was unexpectedly receptive. And not just out of respect for Juwan Howard.

“I’ve always liked Michigan because of D.J. Wilson,” Christopher told The Michigan Insider back in February. “I like Jordan Poole too, so I’ve always kind of had my eyes on Michigan. And then Juwan got the job and I was the first kid that he offered. It was kind of like, if you rock with me as soon as you get the job, then I’m going to rock with you.”

On July 25th Christopher backed those words up when he put Michigan in his final five along with UCLA, Arizona State, Kentucky, and Missouri.