Michigan Basketball: Kobe Bufkin boosts Wolverines 2021 class

Michigan Basketball added its latest member to the 2021 class in Michigan native Kobe Bufkin, a shooting guard from Grand Rapids Christian.

Back in February, Michigan basketball target Kobe Bufkin was interviewed and showered the new Wolverine head coach with praise.

“I love the program,” Bufkin said in an interview with 247 sports. “I love what Coach Howard is doing with the team this year. Obviously, they are on a bit of a down streak, but I feel like this March Madness they will for sure come out and be prepared. I’m ready to see what they do.”

Now, Bufkin is no longer a target, he’s a member of the 2021 Michigan basketball class, bumping the class from outside the top ten, to within the top three.

Some thought Kobe might be leaning toward Michigan State or out of state. His family wouldn’t let that happen, and neither would he.

“I was a Michigan fan when I came out the womb because of my family,” Bufkin told 247. “I just love the game of basketball and watch everybody. My granny has been a Michigan fan since the 1970’s. It goes back in the family a long ways.”

The Wolverines were leading in his recruitment, and all the FutureCasts and Crystal Balls were correct, in the end. Michigan got their next great shooting guard. Here’s how he ranks.

247 sports composite: 78 NATL, 15 SG, 3 MI

247 sports internal: 134 NATL, 28 SG, 3 MI

Rivals: 61 NATL,17 SG

ESPN: 62 NATL, 15 SG, 1 MI

Here’s a look at what he can do via his highlights:

How does he fit and what’s next?

Kobe has enough skill to have an immediate impact for UM and might need to see the court early on depending on who else joins him for the 2021 class. Currently, Michigan has Isaiah Barnes, Will Tschetter, and Kobe as their three guys, but with two scholarships open, and a need for a backup center, UM is likely to fill those and more with the usual attrition.

Looking at the current roster, Adrien Nunez is a candidate for a transfer if he can’t find his niche on the team in 2020. If that happens, Kobe will need to adjust to the college game much quicker than he might like to, although, there are still some shooting guards that Michigan is targeting. One of them is Trevor Keels, and the other is combo-guard Jalen Warley. Warley, however, will probably move to the point.

As mentioned, Keels is a day-one starter as a five-star and will end up as a one-and-done. Aside from him, Michigan will need a center. Charles Bediako and Efton Reid are prospects that could backup Dickinson for a year if he’s still around, and others will immerge.