For Gabe Cupps, Michigan offer serves as validation

It had been a few weeks since Brook Cupps last heard from Juwan Howard when the Michigan coach sent him a text last Tuesday night. 

Howard wanted to talk with Brook Cupps and his son, Gabe, a fast-rising class of 2023 point guard. The trio arranged a phone call, in which Howard would go on to offer the younger Cupps a scholarship. 

“It was a little bit of a surprise,” Brook Cupps told UM Hoops on Sunday. “And a lot of excitement, too.” 

The scholarship offer didn’t come completely out of left field. Cupps and his family visited Michigan in June, making Ann Arbor one of several stops on a lengthy college road trip. They met the coaching staff, toured the campus and Cupps even found his way into the gym to get some shots up.

After the visit, Cupps and Howard stayed in touch via text. In a few instances, the pair FaceTimed, including one time after Cupps had played against Jett Howard’s grassroots team, the Nightrydas.