2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster
Bufkin, Kobe

Jersey Number 2
Kobe Bufkin
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Position:
- G
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 195
- Hometown:
- Grand Rapids, Mich.
- High School:
- Grand Rapids Christian HS
Bio
Career Note
• Elected to leave U-M for early entry in the 2023 NBA Draft
• Announced decision on April 2, 2023
Who is Kobe Bufkin?
• A crafty, left-handed guard with great length and athleticism
• Versatile shooter with deep range, balanced by ability to get to the basket
• Gym rat, working out sometimes three times a day
• Often praised for his basketball IQ and passion for the sport
• Quiet and reserved personality, emerging leader
Michigan Career
• All-Big Ten, third team (media, 2023), honorable mention (coaches, 2023)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Dec. 20, 2022)
• Helped U-M earn selection to NCAA Tournament (2022)
• Advanced to Sweet 16; falling to No. 2 seed Villanova, 66-53
• Helped U-M reach the Sweet 16 for the fifth straight tournament
• Helped U-M to Postseason NIT (2023)
• Advanced to the second round; falling at No. 2 seed Vanderbilt, 66-65
Season: 2022-23
• Started 33 games
• Missed final game of season at Vanderbilt (March 18, NIT)
• Suffered ankle injury in final practice before leaving for Nashville
• Averaged 14.0 points per game; third on U-M
• Posted 24 double figure games; with seven of 20-plus
• Scored a career-best 28 points against Wisconsin (Feb. 26)
• Had six additional 20-plus point games
• 22 points against Lipscomb (Dec. 17)
• 22 points vs. North Carolina (Dec. 21; Jumpman Invitational)
• 20 points against Northwestern (Jan. 15)
• 21 points at Wisconsin (Feb. 14)
• 23 points at Illinois in 2OTs (March 2)
• 23 points against Toledo (March 13; NIT first round)
• Averaged 4.5 rebounds per game
• Posted 14 games with five-plus rebounds; with one 10-plus
• Grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds at Northwestern (Feb. 2)
• Recorded first career double-double (point-rebound)
• 15 points, 12 rebounds: at Northwestern; near triple-double (8 assists)
• Second on U-M with 96 assists (2.9 apg)
• Posted 12 games with four-plus assists
• Had a career-best eight assists at Northwestern
• Third on U-M with 23 blocks
• Had a career-best three blocks against Jackson State (Nov. 23)
• Led U-M with 43 steals (1.3 spg)
• One of two Wolverines in double digits for steals (Dug McDaniel, 35)
• Had a career-best three steals, five times
• Averaged 34.0 minutes per game
• Posted 27 games with 30-plus minutes with three games of 40-plus
• Played a career-best 43 minutes, twice:
• at Illinois n 2OTs and at Indiana in OT (March 5)
Season: 2021-22
• Played in 28 games; all off the bench
• Made collegiate debut against Buffalo (Nov. 10); one block
• Averaged 3.0 points per game
• Posted seven games with 5+ points, with two 10+
• Scored a season-best 11 points against Southern Utah (Dec. 18)
• Averaged 1.1 rebounds per game (32 rebounds)
• Grabbed a season-best six rebounds at Nebraska (Dec. 7)
• Had 11 steals with a season-best two, twice:
• vs. Prairie View A&M (Nov. 13) and at Wisconsin (Feb. 20)
• Averaged 10.6 minutes per game
• Posted nine games with 15+ minutes
• Played a season-best 21 minutes against Rutgers (Feb. 23)
Prep Career
• Four-star recruit, rated No. 38 (ESPN), No. 42 (247 Sports) and No. 48 (Rivals)
• McDonald's All-American (2021)
• Spalding All-American, honorable mention (2021)
• Associated Press Division 2 All-State first team (2020, '21), second team (2019)
• Detroit Free Press Division 2 All-State first team (2020, '21), honorable mention (2019)
• Detroit News Division 2 All-State first team (2020, '21), honorable mention (2019)
• Grand Rapids Press Dream Team (2020, '21)
• Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Best of the BEST (2020, '21), Division 2 BEST (2019)
• Four-year varsity player at Grand Rapids Christian
• As a senior (2020-21), averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists; played first five games before fracturing his wrist and missing the remainder of the season
• As a junior (2019-20), averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while leading the Eagles to a 20-2 record, a runner-up finish in the Ottawa-Kent Conference-Gold (OKC-Gold; 8-2) and the championship game of the MHSAA Division 2 District 44 playoffs before tournament was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
• As a sophomore (2018-19), averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while leading the Eagles to a 16-6 record, a runner-up finish in the OKC-Gold (10-3) and the Division 2 District 43 semifinal
• As a freshman (2017-18), helped the Eagles to a 14-10 record, the Class A District 6 championship and Regional 2 semifinal
• Played AAU with The Family
Personal
• Born September 21, 2003 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Son of Kimberly Camp and Michael Bufkin
• Enrolled in U-M's College of Literature, Science and Arts
• Major: undecided
Personal Note
• Named for the late Kobe Bryant, while brother, Isaiah, was named after Isaiah Thomas
• Enrolled to Michigan at the age of 17; youngest Wolverine on the 2022-23 roster
• Elected to leave U-M for early entry in the 2023 NBA Draft
• Announced decision on April 2, 2023
Who is Kobe Bufkin?
• A crafty, left-handed guard with great length and athleticism
• Versatile shooter with deep range, balanced by ability to get to the basket
• Gym rat, working out sometimes three times a day
• Often praised for his basketball IQ and passion for the sport
• Quiet and reserved personality, emerging leader
Michigan Career
• All-Big Ten, third team (media, 2023), honorable mention (coaches, 2023)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Dec. 20, 2022)
• Helped U-M earn selection to NCAA Tournament (2022)
• Advanced to Sweet 16; falling to No. 2 seed Villanova, 66-53
• Helped U-M reach the Sweet 16 for the fifth straight tournament
• Helped U-M to Postseason NIT (2023)
• Advanced to the second round; falling at No. 2 seed Vanderbilt, 66-65
Season: 2022-23
• Started 33 games
• Missed final game of season at Vanderbilt (March 18, NIT)
• Suffered ankle injury in final practice before leaving for Nashville
• Averaged 14.0 points per game; third on U-M
• Posted 24 double figure games; with seven of 20-plus
• Scored a career-best 28 points against Wisconsin (Feb. 26)
• Had six additional 20-plus point games
• 22 points against Lipscomb (Dec. 17)
• 22 points vs. North Carolina (Dec. 21; Jumpman Invitational)
• 20 points against Northwestern (Jan. 15)
• 21 points at Wisconsin (Feb. 14)
• 23 points at Illinois in 2OTs (March 2)
• 23 points against Toledo (March 13; NIT first round)
• Averaged 4.5 rebounds per game
• Posted 14 games with five-plus rebounds; with one 10-plus
• Grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds at Northwestern (Feb. 2)
• Recorded first career double-double (point-rebound)
• 15 points, 12 rebounds: at Northwestern; near triple-double (8 assists)
• Second on U-M with 96 assists (2.9 apg)
• Posted 12 games with four-plus assists
• Had a career-best eight assists at Northwestern
• Third on U-M with 23 blocks
• Had a career-best three blocks against Jackson State (Nov. 23)
• Led U-M with 43 steals (1.3 spg)
• One of two Wolverines in double digits for steals (Dug McDaniel, 35)
• Had a career-best three steals, five times
• Averaged 34.0 minutes per game
• Posted 27 games with 30-plus minutes with three games of 40-plus
• Played a career-best 43 minutes, twice:
• at Illinois n 2OTs and at Indiana in OT (March 5)
Season: 2021-22
• Played in 28 games; all off the bench
• Made collegiate debut against Buffalo (Nov. 10); one block
• Averaged 3.0 points per game
• Posted seven games with 5+ points, with two 10+
• Scored a season-best 11 points against Southern Utah (Dec. 18)
• Averaged 1.1 rebounds per game (32 rebounds)
• Grabbed a season-best six rebounds at Nebraska (Dec. 7)
• Had 11 steals with a season-best two, twice:
• vs. Prairie View A&M (Nov. 13) and at Wisconsin (Feb. 20)
• Averaged 10.6 minutes per game
• Posted nine games with 15+ minutes
• Played a season-best 21 minutes against Rutgers (Feb. 23)
Prep Career
• Four-star recruit, rated No. 38 (ESPN), No. 42 (247 Sports) and No. 48 (Rivals)
• McDonald's All-American (2021)
• Spalding All-American, honorable mention (2021)
• Associated Press Division 2 All-State first team (2020, '21), second team (2019)
• Detroit Free Press Division 2 All-State first team (2020, '21), honorable mention (2019)
• Detroit News Division 2 All-State first team (2020, '21), honorable mention (2019)
• Grand Rapids Press Dream Team (2020, '21)
• Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Best of the BEST (2020, '21), Division 2 BEST (2019)
• Four-year varsity player at Grand Rapids Christian
• As a senior (2020-21), averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists; played first five games before fracturing his wrist and missing the remainder of the season
• As a junior (2019-20), averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while leading the Eagles to a 20-2 record, a runner-up finish in the Ottawa-Kent Conference-Gold (OKC-Gold; 8-2) and the championship game of the MHSAA Division 2 District 44 playoffs before tournament was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
• As a sophomore (2018-19), averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while leading the Eagles to a 16-6 record, a runner-up finish in the OKC-Gold (10-3) and the Division 2 District 43 semifinal
• As a freshman (2017-18), helped the Eagles to a 14-10 record, the Class A District 6 championship and Regional 2 semifinal
• Played AAU with The Family
Personal
• Born September 21, 2003 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Son of Kimberly Camp and Michael Bufkin
• Enrolled in U-M's College of Literature, Science and Arts
• Major: undecided
Personal Note
• Named for the late Kobe Bryant, while brother, Isaiah, was named after Isaiah Thomas
• Enrolled to Michigan at the age of 17; youngest Wolverine on the 2022-23 roster
Cadeau Adds Lightning Speed, Selfless Play to U-M Backcourt
Monday, August 11
Summer Workouts Bring Vision to Life for Men's Hoops
Thursday, July 31
Inside Michigan Basketball - Episode 13
Sunday, March 30
Men's Basketball Highlights vs. Auburn - NCAA Tournament (March 28)
Saturday, March 29