The story of Fab Five (University of Michigan)

There have been a number of famous recruiting classes in college basketball history, although none have been more notorious than the 1991 University of Michigan men's team. During two memorable years, Jimmy King, Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Ray Jackson, and Juwan Howard wowed the nation with a series of displays that gripped the nation, while also changing the face of college basketball forever.

All five of the players entered the 1991/92 season as freshmen, and due to this, few expected that they could all start for Michigan. Nevertheless, the youngsters quickly began to gain traction, and during a game against Notre Dame in February of 92, the Fabulous Five scored all of Michigan's 74 points. The game against Notre Dame was the first in which the five had started together, and from that point on, they didn't look back.

Dazzling the Nation

In the following months, the Fab Five continued to blow rival teams away, although, despite their evident talent, the team was gaining considerable criticism for their perceived trash-talking, showboating and an arrogant attitude on the court. Each of the five also had their own nickname. There was Jimmy, Nookie, C-Webb, J-Rose and Ray Dawg, and all five quickly became household names.

As noted, the Fab Five attracted plenty of criticism for their perceived arrogant attitudes, although the team also managed to win over many neutral fans thanks to their joy and enthusiasm for the game. The team's popularity also further exploded when Michigan signed a huge college sponsorship deal with Nike.

The deal between Nike and the Fab Five helped to popularise the combination of wearing baggy shorts with low black socks, and at a point in time when more than 40 million Americans were tuning into college games, the team's style and coolness only helped to elevate basketball amidst the backdrop of the hip-hop crazed 90s.

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1992 Championship Pursuit

Against the odds, the Wolverines played in the 1992 college championship game (Picture Credit - Chicago Tribune)

After adjusting their lineup to one consisting entirely of freshmen, Michigan finished the 91/92 season with a 25-9 record. Along the way, Jalen Rose set a new record for points scored by a freshman (597), while Chris Webber also became the first freshman to lead the tournament in rebounds.

Thanks to their late season form, Michigan went on to play in the 1992 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and subsequently became NCAA championship finalists after defeating teams including Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and Cincinnati.

In the Championship Game, the Fab Five suffered a tough defeat to the No. 1 seeded Duke, however, the season as a whole was viewed as an incredible success story. While falling short of winning a championship, the Fab-Five's season had destroyed the notion that freshmen players couldn't lead college teams, a huge accomplishment in its own right.

Final Year and Breakup

Chris Webber's timeout will forever be remembered by 90s basketball fans (Picture Credit - ESPN)

After stunning the basketball world in the previous campaign, Michigan entered the 92/93 among the favorites to take home the national championship. The team enjoyed another successful season, finishing the regular season with a 31-5 record, and Chris Webber continued to stand out, leading the team in both points (690) and rebounds (362).

During their second year together, the Fab Five continued to thrill spectators with their exciting brand of basketball and they went on to set a new record for the most wins in Michigan team history. Numerous NCAA records also tumbled as the team reached the Division I Basketball Championship game for a second consecutive year.

The final in New Orleans saw Michigan take on North Carolina, however, despite a double-double from Webber, the Wolverines once again fell short, losing a tight game 71-77. Nevertheless, the game is most remembered for the moment when Webber called for a time-out with less than 15 seconds remaining.

The Wolverines were down by just two points, although after getting trapped in the corner, Webber called for a time-out, unaware that Michigan had none remaining.

The officials had no choice but to call a technical foul, and North Carolina consequently ended the game at the free-throw line. A moment of madness had cost the Wolverines a national championship, and in the following months, Webber declared for the 1993 NBA draft, putting an end to the Fab Five after just two years.

Life after the Fab Five

Chris Webber enjoyed a successful career in the NBA, becoming a 5x All-Star

Webber was the first to leave Michigan as the Detroit native was drafted with the first pick of the 1993 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. During a 15 year career in the league, Webber went on to have successful spells with the Sacramento Kings and was named to the All-Star team on five occasions.

Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard both followed a year later, with Rose being drafted 13th, while Howard was selected as a top-five pick. Rose's best spell came with the Indiana Pacers between 1996 and 2002, and he picked up the Most Improved Player award in 2000.

Meanwhile, Howard went on to make the 1996 All-Star team, and during a late-career spell with the Miami Heat, the center became the only Fab Five member to win an NBA Championship.

Jimmy King entered the draft in 1995 and was selected 35th overall. Nevertheless, the shooting guard was quickly waived by the Toronto Raptors and spent most of his career in Europe.

Finally, Ray Jackson stayed at Michigan for the full four years, however, he was undrafted after declaring for the draft in 1995. Ultimately, Jackson was the only member of the Fab Five not to play in the NBA, although he went on to become a coach in his native Texas.

Later Controversy and Legacy

Chris Webber received more than $300,000 in illegal loans while still an amateur (Picture Credit - Sporting News)

While there is no doubting that the Fab Five had helped to change the entire landscape of college basketball in the 90s, the team's legacy was somewhat tarnished by a series of investigations and punishments.

The controversy stemmed from the relationship between college booster Ed Martin and the Wolverines organization, and investigations got so serious that by 1999, Webber had been called before a federal jury. Eventually, it was discovered that Wolverines players had taken more than $600000 in loans from the booster, breaking numerous NCAA rules.

In the aftermath, coach, Steve Fisher was fired after more than 15 years with the college, and many of the Fab Five's records were removed from the college's history. The majority of the Wolverines roster, including Webber, were also banned from being affiliated with the college until 2013. Nevertheless, despite all the controversy, the Fab Five will always be remembered for lighting up college basketball in the 90s.