Kobe Bufkin

[EvanZ]

Thought we had a thread but I guess not. Liking this kid more and more as the season goes on. He resemble Poole in so many ways it's uncanny (for better or worse ). Right now I have Bufkin solidly right around 20. It should be noted that he is actually a week younger than Jett, so any profile of Bufkin should be considering his peer group as the Freshman class.

[reanimator]

I think Bufkin is very efficient with the ball where as Poole loves to overdribble which I think will make a world of difference. He is definitely the better Michigan prospect between he and Jett. He is sort of DLO-ish if you nerf the passing but he defends.

[SeattleJazzFan]

with bufkin being younger than jett, i absolutely have him ahead of JH. i think they are closer in size/length than what they are listed as well. i'm going to guess they within an inch or two in terms of wingspan.

[clyde21]

don't really see the Poole comp, body types are similar but he's not the overdribbler that Poole is and is a better half-court player, Poole's more of a full court and pull up guy.

i think Bufkin has probably a clearer path to success than Howard, don't know if I have him higher at this point tho.

[reanimator]

Watch on YouTube

[Hal14]

with bufkin being younger than jett, i absolutely have him ahead of JH. i think they are closer in size/length than what they are listed as well. i'm going to guess they within an inch or two in terms of wingspan.

lol

C'mon dude, you can't be serious. Bufkin is literally 7 days younger. So because Bufkin happened to be born 7 days earlier and because you're guessing that maybe Bufkin's wingspan is within an inch or 2 of Jett, THAT is enough for you to say that you "absolutely" have Bufkin ranked over Jett.



A week apart is nothing. They're basically the same age. Bufkin is a sophomore. Jett is a freshman. That matters. When you watch film, you're watching 1 kid who's in his 2nd year of playing Big 10 basketball compared to another kid who's only in his 1st year playing Big 10 basketball. So based on that, Bufkin *should* be MUCH better than Jett - but he's not..

If we compare the numbers that both players put up as freshman, it's not even close who the better player is.

[jezzerinho]

with bufkin being younger than jett, i absolutely have him ahead of JH. i think they are closer in size/length than what they are listed as well. i'm going to guess they within an inch or two in terms of wingspan.

lol

C'mon dude, you can't be serious. Bufkin is literally 7 days younger. So because Bufkin happened to be born 7 days earlier and because you're guessing that maybe Bufkin's wingspan is within an inch or 2 of Jett, THAT is enough for you to say that you "absolutely" have Bufkin ranked over Jett.



A week apart is nothing. They're basically the same age. Bufkin is a sophomore. Jett is a freshman. That matters. When you watch film, you're watching 1 kid who's in his 2nd year of playing Big 10 basketball compared to another kid who's only in his 1st year playing Big 10 basketball. So based on that, Bufkin *should* be MUCH better than Jett - but he's not..

If we compare the numbers that both players put up as freshman, it's not even close who the better player is.

I'd comfortably have Bufkin ahead of Howard. If you think that's how it should be because Bufkin is a Soph, then fine. Personally, I believe that players who show high on-court IQ plus high effort early in college tend to translate well to the pros. Kobe Bufkin is that guy.

Jett Howard, in my view, is not that guy. I find him heavy-footed a lot of the time, uninspiring athletically and poor at anticipating the play. He's Caleb Houston with a little better shooting consistency, similar effort but lower IQ. Marginal guy, who will probably have 1 or 2 NBA contracts at least because his archetype is needed.

Bufkins opportunity to do something much more substantial in the NBA is considerably higher.

[reanimator]

with bufkin being younger than jett, i absolutely have him ahead of JH. i think they are closer in size/length than what they are listed as well. i'm going to guess they within an inch or two in terms of wingspan.

lol

C'mon dude, you can't be serious. Bufkin is literally 7 days younger. So because Bufkin happened to be born 7 days earlier and because you're guessing that maybe Bufkin's wingspan is within an inch or 2 of Jett, THAT is enough for you to say that you "absolutely" have Bufkin ranked over Jett.



A week apart is nothing. They're basically the same age. Bufkin is a sophomore. Jett is a freshman. That matters. When you watch film, you're watching 1 kid who's in his 2nd year of playing Big 10 basketball compared to another kid who's only in his 1st year playing Big 10 basketball. So based on that, Bufkin *should* be MUCH better than Jett - but he's not..

If we compare the numbers that both players put up as freshman, it's not even close who the better player is.

I'd comfortably have Bufkin ahead of Howard. If you think that's how it should be because Bufkin is a Soph, then fine. Personally, I believe that players who show high on-court IQ plus high effort early in college tend to translate well to the pros. Kobe Bufkin is that guy.

Jett Howard, in my view, is not that guy. I find him heavy-footed a lot of the time, uninspiring athletically and poor at anticipating the play. He's Caleb Houston with a little better shooting consistency, similar effort but lower IQ. Marginal guy, who will probably have 1 or 2 NBA contracts at least because his archetype is needed.

Bufkins opportunity to do something much more substantial in the NBA is considerably higher.

After being very high on Howard, sadly I have to agree. Howard has a lot of the things you'd want in a 2/3 on paper but the effort, awareness, and approach in-game just leaves a lot to be desired. Michigan's offense looks 1000% better when Bufkin has the ball in his hands as opposed to Jett. The team even does better in his absence (though the sample is small) and that is a red flag.

Kobe gives you the same quality offball shooting/C+S as Jett but is leagues ahead in PnR, isolation, or DHO. Kobe is a good defender and competes on that end while Jett is a poor rebounder, routinely gets caught on screens, routinely gets blown by, and offers no sort of rim protection.

[EvanZ]

It’s very important that Bufkin is the same age as Jett. But long term what’s really in Jett’s favor js his size. It’s as simple as that. Size makes everything easier.


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[The-Power]

It’s very important that Bufkin is the same age as Jett. But long term what’s really in Jett’s favor js his size. It’s as simple as that. Size makes everything easier.

That's were I'm at, too. Bufkin needs to be able to show that he has legit on-ball creation ability at the next level to set himself apart from a lot of other Guards vying for a rotation spot. And he has a shot at it, so he's probably worth a (late) FRP. But Howard just has an easier path to regular minutes even without being as good on the ball because of his size (even as he still needs to pass the minimum thresholds in terms of defense and shooting for his archetype).

[Hal14]

Look, I like Bufkin. Obviously, the fact that he's still only 19 helps him. But I have trouble identifying any elite skill for him. That would really help his stock - especially since he's an undersized 2-guard.

He's only 6'4" and can't play the point. So he's a 6'4" wing which is undersized. On film he does appear to be closer to 6'5" so the combine measurements will be interesting to see.

Good defender. Probably one of the better defensive guards in the class. That helps. He can handle the ball decently well, pretty good passer, decent shooter (shooting seems to be improving at a pretty good rate too) so there's some good signs. But when you zoom out and look at the whole package, I'm not convinced he's a 1st rounder.

Yet consensus seems to now have him in the 23-28 range. I'm just not there - at least not yet.

I do like the way he hustles, plays tough and scrappy.

At this point, I have him as an early to mid 2nd rounder. But he could move up.

He's kind of like Wendell Moore. An undersized wing who can do a little but of everything. I had Moore as a late 1st rounder - I just think he was a little bit better at pretty much everything. And while Bufkin has pretty good quickness, Moore was REALLY freaking fast - I feel like he was easily one of the fastest non-PG's in last year's class and that was another reason I was high on him, because I was seeing the way that speed could translate to the bigger, more open floor in the NBA.

[EvanZ]

Yet consensus seems to now have him in the 23-28 range. I'm just not there - at least not yet.

What consensus are you referring to? I don't follow Givony much, is that where he has him? Last I heard he had Bufkin in the 2024 draft. Tankathon has him 37. Where does Vecenie have him?

As for me personally, I would have him late first if he declared.

[Hal14]

Yet consensus seems to now have him in the 23-28 range. I'm just not there - at least not yet.

What consensus are you referring to? I don't follow Givony much, is that where he has him? Last I heard he had Bufkin in the 2024 draft. Tankathon has him 37. Where does Vecenie have him?

As for me personally, I would have him late first if he declared.

He's 21 on this, which is a bunch of mocks/big boards combined:

Read on Twitter

This mock has him at 24:
https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/2023-nba-mock-draft-v5

[reanimator]

Definitely think Bufkin's shotmaking/shooting is being incredibly underrated especially compared to someone like Wendell Moore but admittedly I am really only going off conference play where a light seemed to switch on. Not like the book is closed on Wendell either but I just think there is a offensive gap there and if Kobe returned for a 3rd year it'd be decisively clear.

[Hal14]

Definitely think Bufkin's shotmaking/shooting is being incredibly underrated especially compared to someone like Wendell Moore but admittedly I am really only going off conference play where a light seemed to switch on. Not like the book is closed on Wendell either but I just think there is a offensive gap there and if Kobe returned for a 3rd year it'd be decisively clear.

You also have a Michigan wolverines logo next to your post

Last season Moore simply looked just so quick, explosive and decisive with his movements (with and without the ball). Bufkin looks not quite as quick, explosive or decisive.

Moore also measured 6'5.5" in shoes with a 7'0.5" wingspan.

And I was more optimistic about Moore's ball skills and the work he was putting into them after seeing this before the draft.

Watch on YouTube

No shame in being compared to Moore. I was very high on him going into the draft last year. And I've currently got Bufkin as an early 2nd rounder - which seems to be around where many others have him too..

[reanimator]

Definitely think Bufkin's shotmaking/shooting is being incredibly underrated especially compared to someone like Wendell Moore but admittedly I am really only going off conference play where a light seemed to switch on. Not like the book is closed on Wendell either but I just think there is a offensive gap there and if Kobe returned for a 3rd year it'd be decisively clear.

You also have a Michigan wolverines logo next to your post haha.

Last season Moore simply looked just so quick, explosive and decisive with his movements (with and without the ball). Bufkin looks not quite as quick, explosive or decisive.

Moore also measured 6'5.5" in shoes with a 7'0.5" wingspan.

And I was more optimistic about Moore's ball skills and the work he was putting into them after seeing this before the draft.

Watch on YouTube

No shame in being compared to Moore. I was very high on him going into the draft last year. And I've currently got Bufkin as an early 2nd rounder - which seems to be around where many others have him too..

Very little bias here. I don't think Bufkin is an explosive athlete, however, he is very economical in his decision making and a strong driver who doesn't get knocked off balance. Excellent at carving out spice. But really, I simply think he is a better shotmaker whether it C+S, off screens, out of PnR, or simply converting tough shots out of isolation than someone like Wendell Moore. Wendell was inconsistent maybe even poor perhaps in that regard during his sophomore year. But once again, I admit I am only considering Bufkin since the middle of conference play where he has been remarkably consistent especially in games where Jett is absent.

[basketballRob]

Look, I like Bufkin. Obviously, the fact that he's still only 19 helps him. But I have trouble identifying any elite skill for him. That would really help his stock - especially since he's an undersized 2-guard.

He's only 6'4" and can't play the point. So he's a 6'4" wing which is undersized. On film he does appear to be closer to 6'5" so the combine measurements will be interesting to see.

Good defender. Probably one of the better defensive guards in the class. That helps. He can handle the ball decently well, pretty good passer, decent shooter (shooting seems to be improving at a pretty good rate too) so there's some good signs. But when you zoom out and look at the whole package, I'm not convinced he's a 1st rounder.

Yet consensus seems to now have him in the 23-28 range. I'm just not there - at least not yet.

I do like the way he hustles, plays tough and scrappy.

At this point, I have him as an early to mid 2nd rounder. But he could move up.

He's kind of like Wendell Moore. An undersized wing who can do a little but of everything. I had Moore as a late 1st rounder - I just think he was a little bit better at pretty much everything. And while Bufkin has pretty good quickness, Moore was REALLY freaking fast - I feel like he was easily one of the fastest non-PG's in last year's class and that was another reason I was high on him, because I was seeing the way that speed could translate to the bigger, more open floor in the NBA.

Bufkin was measured 6'4" without shoes prior to going to Michigan. Rumor is that he's close to 6'6 with shoes now.

He's a SG and has good size for that position.

I like him with the Magic's second pick. They always seem to have a thing for Michigan players.

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[EvanZ]

He does not look 6'6" to me. He looked notably smaller than JHS when they matched up. The hair on some of these guys is deceiving.

[clyde21]

i know pics can be deceiving as hell but it's either Bufkin is a legit 6-6 or Howard isn't anywhere near his listed height

[EvanZ]

Thought we had a thread but I guess not. Liking this kid more and more as the season goes on. He resemble Poole in so many ways it's uncanny (for better or worse ). Right now I have Bufkin solidly right around 20. It should be noted that he is actually a week younger than Jett, so any profile of Bufkin should be considering his peer group as the Freshman class.

'
Just heard Givony has him at 21. Damn I'm good.