Kobe Bufkin enters NBA Draft as Michigan basketball sees another departure

Early on this past season, Kobe Bufkin’s name was starting to pop up in mock drafts — for 2024.

But after a standout sophomore campaign, Bufkin’s stock skyrocketed and he soared up draft boards. By season’s end, he was widely regarded as a first-round pick in June’s draft and had a decision to make. Stay at Michigan for another year or make the jump to the pro level?

Bufkin opted for the latter path and took the first step on Sunday when the Wolverines announced he will forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the NBA Draft.

“To my U of M family, it has been an amazing experience, being part of such an iconic university,” Bufkin wrote in a post. “This is including the Ann Arbor community, the outstanding academic experience, and of course, my basketball brotherhood. A brotherhood that I will forever hold close to heart.

“After lots of prayer and consideration, I have decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft. Hail, Buff out.”

With junior center Hunter Dickinson entering the transfer portal and freshman wing Jett Howard also declaring for the draft, Bufkin’s departure means Michigan will have to replace, at minimum, three starters and its top three scorers from a team that failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. While the 2022-23 season was a disappointing one for the Wolverines, Bufkin’s development was a bright spot.

Heading into the season, Michigan’s coaching staff was expecting big things from Bufkin and a huge sophomore leap. The Grand Rapids native and youngest player on the roster didn’t disappoint. In fact, he likely exceeded expectations, as he transformed from a bench player in Year 1 to a breakout star in the Big Ten in Year 2.

As his playing time tripled — from 10.6 minutes as a freshman to 34 minutes as a sophomore — Bufkin made the most of his opportunity. In his first season as a full-time starter, he earned All-Big Ten third-team honors after averaging 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals, while shooting 48.2% from the field and 35.5% from 3-point range over 33 games.

After working on his body and game last offseason, he made noticeable strides as a scorer — both at the rim and from outside — and as a rebounder. His biggest area of growth was on the defensive end, where he tallied 43 steals and 23 blocks as the team’s best perimeter defender.

Bufkin was at his best during the second half of the conference schedule when his all-around play reached another level — and NBA personnel took notice. Over the final 12 games, he averaged 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists and shot 45.1% from beyond the arc.

He finished the season logging a team-high 1,121 minutes — he only missed Michigan’s last game, a second-round NIT loss at Vanderbilt, with an ankle injury — and led the Wolverines in free-throw shooting (84.9%) and steals. He also ranked second on the team in assists (96) and served as the secondary ball-handler following Jaelin Llewellyn’s season-ending injury.

Bufkin’s defensive improvement and scoring ability — seven 20-point games — combined with his age (19), athleticism and potential make him an alluring draft prospect. But for Michigan, Bufkin’s decision is the latest domino that didn’t fall its way.

As a result, a tough offseason got even tougher for coach Juwan Howard, who will have to overhaul a roster that will look significantly different in 2023-24. In addition to Bufkin, Dickinson and Jett Howard, sophomore wing Isaiah Barnes entered the portal and plans to head elsewhere.

The number of departing players could increase. The Wolverines are awaiting redshirt rulings for Joey Baker and Llewellyn. Baker is seeking a sixth year of eligibility and applying for a waiver to get back his freshman year of eligibility, while Llewellyn is pursuing a medical hardship waiver after tearing his ACL in early December.

Regardless of those outcomes, Michigan still has needs to fill and the bulk of its offensive output to replace — Bufkin, Dickinson and Howard combined for 60% of the Wolverines’ total points scored last season.

With just a two-man recruiting class coming in — guard George Washington III and big man Papa Kante — another addition on the way — Alabama transfer Nimari Burnett — and not a ton of production coming back, Michigan will have to depend on the transfer portal more than ever to rebuild on the fly and construct a competitive roster for next season.

jhawkins@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @jamesbhawkins