Michigan underclassmen Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin listed as first-round picks in latest NBA mock draft

For months, Michigan Wolverines basketball freshman guard Jett Howard has been projected a first-round NBA Draft pick if he decides to leave U-M after one season. Now, another underclassman, sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin, has joined him in receiving first-round buzz.

The Athletic analyst Sam Vecenie released a mock draft Feb. 16 and placed Howard No. 15 to the Atlanta Hawks. Bufkin, meanwhile, slotted No. 28 to the Houston Rockets.

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Howard — who could become the Wolverines’ fourth one-and-done prospect of this century, joining Ignas Brazdeikis, Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan — checking in No. 15 means he’d be just shy of being taken in the lottery.

The wings listed above Howard are Alabama’s Brandon Miller (No. 3), Villanova’s Cam Whitmore (No. 6), Overtime Elite’s Ausar Thompson (No. 8), Kansas’ Gradey Dick (No. 10), New Zealand Breakers’ Rayan Rupert (No. 13) and Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino (No. 14).

The son of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard has had an uber productive freshman season on the offensive end of the floor, averaging 14.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 42.1 percent overall and 37.8 percent from three-point range.

Howard has struggled on the defensive end of the floor, though, which may put a cap on his draft stock.

“Howard has been a fascinating prospect to track this season,” Vecenie wrote. “From a scoring perspective, he has had some of the best scoring games of any prospect. His 34-point outburst against Iowa was a ridiculous display of shot making, and in general, Howard’s shooting has been his elite skill this year. He’s a knockdown movement shooter who gets open looks out of a variety of different actions because of how quickly he can set his feet and fire.

“He’s hit 38 percent of his six 3-point attempts per game this season. But he’s not really bringing anything else to the table. He can be a secondary ballhandler but only out of certain actions because he’s not all that athletic (the Zoom actions Michigan runs really help get him the ball with his momentum downhill).

“Moreover, Howard doesn’t rebound and is a very poor defender. Being 6-foot-8 and able to shoot out of varied actions is a big deal. But Howard still has a ways to go to solidify this slot.”

Bufkin is Michigan’s youngest scholarship player despite being a sophomore, and he’s only grown throughout the season. He was unplayable at times last season but is now one of the Wolverines’ most steady presences while carrying a huge load of responsibility, serving as the team’s starting shooting guard and backup point guard.

There are six guards who slotted above Bufkin in the mock draft — G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson (No. 2), Overtime Elite’s Amen Thompson (No. 4), Arkansas’ Anthony Black (No. 7), Baylor’s Keyonte George (No. 9), Kentucky’s Cason Wallace (No. 11) and Arkansas’ Nick Smith Jr. (No. 12).

“Bufkin is a fast-rising, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard out of Michigan whom scouts have come to really appreciate throughout the season,” Vecenie wrote of the Michigan sophomore.

“He’s only averaging 12 points, four rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 30 percent from 3. So why are people excited? It’s the production for his age. Bufkin is actually a bit younger than teammate Jett Howard. If you look at him in that context, he’s immediately intriguing due to his blend of athleticism and skill set.

“He has a bit of a ways to go in terms of strength, and the shooting is going to have to come around. But there are currently no freshmen in college basketball averaging at least 12 points, four rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field, which is what Bufkin is doing right now. It’s easy to see why scouts have identified him as a potential 2023 draft pick.”

It’s possible that one or both of Howard and Bufkin could test the NBA waters, even go through the combine, and still return to Michigan for the 2023-24 season.

The Wolverines have had 14 overall NBA Draft picks since 2013, four more than any other Big Ten school. Nine of those went in the first round. The Maize and Blue have had 15 drafts (and five of the last 10) with multiple players selected.

Former Michigan forward Colin Castleton, who transferred to Florida after the 2020 season, was listed No. 56 to the Memphis Grizzlies.