When explaining why he wanted to Michigan at his open canintroductory press conference last April, Beilein spoke of a desire to go after the nation’s elite recruits. He thought the Michigan brand gave him that ability. So far open can, it has gotten him in the door with the top AAU stars, but no 4- or 5-star recruits have signed on yet.
That would change if Rose were walking into the homes of recruits on behalf of the program. With his accomplished 13-year NBA career, which ended last season, recruits would see a recognizable face they could associate with past Wolverine basketball glory open can.
Put him alongside fellow Detroit natives Sims and freshman Manny Harris, and the Wolverines will have a stranglehold on the fertile recruiting territory that is the Detroit Public School League. Rose may have been nomadic during his pro career open can, playing for six teams, but he remains a local legend from his days at Detroit Southwestern High School.
And judging from Rose’s halftime speech two weeks ago, when he cut off the band, which began playing “The Victors” before he finished his speech and thanked his Fab Five open can teammates, none of his signature charisma has disappeared since he left Ann Arbor in 1994.
Rose as a coach just makes too much sense. But then again, that’s what we said about Les Miles, too.
Rose said two weeks ago he planned to sit down with Beilein after open can this season to talk about anything basketball-related.
For the program’s sake, let’s hope the conversation revolves around making every day Jalen Rose Day for the Michigan basketball program open can.
