If you want to win an NCAA title you need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 1 championship team since 1979 has not featured such a player (Maryland in 2002). The McDonald’s All-American Game did not take place last spring and will not be taking place this spring due to COVID, sadly. However, the rosters were announced on February 23rd after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a list of several hundred nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach Mark Few how he likes having 2020 honoree Jalen Suggs at Gonzaga! Michigan seems to be the big winner so far as Coach Juwan Howard will be having a trio of 2021 honorees join him in Ann Arbor this fall. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Kobe Bufkin about being named a McDonald’s All-American and recovering from an injury.
You are named after the late Kobe Bryant: how do you like the name, and what was your reaction to his tragic death last year? My parents claim that I was not named after him…but I have 1 brother named after Isaiah Thomas and another brother named after Michael Jordan so I think there might be something to it! It was tragic not just for me but for the entire basketball community. We all looked up to him and it was very hard for me.
Your high school coach Eric Taylor has known your parents since they were all kids: how close are the 2 of you? We are very close: I have known him since 5th grade and grew up around him.
What has been the hardest part of being a high school basketball player during a pandemic? The hardest part is not being able to get out on the floor. It tests your mental toughness but I have been able to get into the gym and get some shots up.
You received offers from several great schools including LSU/Michigan State/Ohio State but signed with Michigan last summer: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how happy was your family (who are lifelong Wolverine fans)?! The biggest factor was just the family aspect: when I visited I always felt like I was at home. My family was not too involved in my recruitment but when I made my decision it was huge. Another factor is to the pandemic: I do not know how easy it will be to travel during the year ahead so it is nice to stay close to home.
You plan to study business: why did you pick that subject? I want to know the ins and outs of the business world: how people are talking to me, their real intentions, etc. I do not want to be lost when it comes time for me to make important decisions in the future.
On Tuesday you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant the world to me. It is 1 of the biggest achievements a high school player can receive and I worked hard for it every day.
2 of your fellow future Wolverines (Caleb Houstan/Moussa Diabate) were also named All-Americans as part of the #1 recruiting class in the nation: how well do you know them, and how talented is your group? I have talked to them a few times and I think that we will be a very talented group: I cannot wait to get to campus and start working with them.
The Wolverines have been 1 of the best teams in the nation this season: how far do you think they will go, and are you concerned about trying to replace all of the graduating seniors (Isaiah Livers/Mike Smith/Chaundee Brown/Eli Brooks) and perhaps freshman Hunter Dickinson (if he declares for the draft)? I feel they will go a very long way and have a good shot at winning the title. If everyone leaves then it is just the job of the rest of the team (as well as our freshman class) to pick up the slack and produce.
You are 6’4”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I played PG in high school but am willing to play wherever Coach Juwan Howard needs me to: I want to be as versatile as possible.
Earlier this month you broke your left wrist in a game against Grand Rapids Catholic Central: how bad is it, and when do you expect to get back on the court? It should be anywhere from 4-6 weeks but if all goes well then I hope to get back in time for postseason play.