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Rank: #8 Overall Prospect
Kobe Bufkin (Michigan, Sophomore) HEIGHT 6'4" WEIGHT 187 AGE 19.7 WINGSPAN 6'8"
PTS: 14 (57.8 TS%) 3P%: 35.5 (3.7 3PA/G) REB: 4.5 (7.8 REB%) STL: 1.3 (2.3 STL%)
SUMMARY Dynamic two-way presence who will fill up highlight reels. If his jumper keeps trending up, he has All-Star potential.
SHADES OF Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley fused together
BEST SKILLS Feel for the Game On-Ball Defense Pull-up Threat Hustle
PLUSES Versatile half-court talent who can thrive with or without the ball. Michigan used him in pick-and-rolls and handoffs, and he showed potential for improvising as a cutter and relocator. Pairing him with an offensive hub would be ideal.
Excellent, ambidextrous at-rim finisher who can hit flip shots without even leaving his feet. But when he does elevate, he glides through the air for acrobatic at-rim touch finishes, and he doesn’t need a ton of space to get above the rim for dunks.
Dramatically improved his efficiency as a shooter during his sophomore season, showcasing reliable ability off the catch and smooth, consistent mechanics.
Flashes upside as a dribble-jumper scorer who can get super hot from midrange. He has pull-ups, side steps, and stepbacks all in his bag. He looks especially comfortable dribbling laterally to get into his shots, a valuable tool when facing pressure.
As a playmaker capable of making both simple reads and complex feeds even when under duress, he offers more on offense than just his scoring.
Blends excellent fundamentals with playmaking skill as a defender. He sits in a stance and keeps his arms wide and high when sliding man-to-man, but he also loves to jab at the ball to force turnovers or bother the opponent.
Hustles with intensity when away from the ball. He helps on drives, flies in to contest at the rim, sprints up the floor for chase-down blocks, and rebounds well for a smaller guy.
MINUSES Gets out of control at times as a ball handler and commits too many careless turnovers, throwing the ball into traffic when searching for the roller.
Unproven shooter off the dribble: He made 37.5 percent and 34.3 percent of his 3s, per Synergy. But he took barely any attempts at all as a freshman, so that’s at least an improvement.
Weighed in at only 195 pounds as a sophomore, so he will get picked on defensively at the next level. Improving at defending without fouling will be a priority.
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