By Patrick Hayes

Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press recently caught up with former Michigan star Juwan Howard, who just won a NBA championship with the Miami Heat. In the story, Howard talks about his playing career winding down and possibly returning to Michigan:

“All the hard work and you put in, how many hours in the gym working hard to experience that dream,” he said. “Every ballplayer has that same feeling, I’m close but I haven’t won it yet and you get older. You hope all the hard work is going to pay off.”

Retirement and another, non-basketball life await Howard.

A life he hopes may involve a return to Ann Arbor. Like the rest of his Michigan teammates, he’s eyeing the 2013 end of Webber’s disassociation from the school due to the NCAA sanctions and a chance to properly recognize the Fab Five as a group.

Howard is originally from Chicago, but several formerly out-of-state players who played at Michigan, including Jerod Ward (story on Ward) and Anthony Wright (story on Wright), have now put down permanent roots in the state. Plus, Howard’s son, Juwan Howard Jr., will be playing for the University of Detroit next season after sitting out this season after transferring from Western Michigan.