Jett Howard follows in dad’s footsteps to Orlando; Bufkin lands in Atlanta

Jett Howard realized a dream Thursday night.

Howard, the youngest son of Michigan basketball coach and former Fab Five star Juwan Howard, was taken No. 11 overall by the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft.

Juwan Howard was taken No. 5 overall by the Miami Heat in 1994 and played in Orlando in 2003-04.

Jett Howard was the first Wolverine nabbed Thursday, ahead of Michigan teammate Kobe Bufkin. Both were in attendance after being invited to the NBA’s Green Room in Brooklyn, New York.

Howard joins former Michigan players Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner on the Magic.

Howard in his lone season in Ann Arbor averaged 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and two assists per game as he was named third-team All-Big Ten by media as well as making the All-Freshman team in the conference. The 6foot-8, 215-pound wing played in 29 games as he missed five games throughout the year with two separate ankle injuries.

Despite battling those ailments the majority of the season, Howard scored in double figures 23 times, finished with more than 20 points four times and dropped a career-high 34 points in an overtime road loss at Iowa in late January.

He led the team in 3-pointers (78), which tied Duncan Robinson (2017-18) for the ninthmost in a season in program history as he finished second in the conference in 3-pointers per game (2.68).

Michigan basketball guard Kobe Bufkin one year ago was an unproven commodity still looking to carve out a consistent role at the college level.

Now, the Grand Rapids native is an NBA basketball player — and a first round selection at that.

Bufkin on the heels of a standout sophomore campaign completed his ascent up draft boards when he was taken No. 15 overall by the Atlanta Hawks in Thursday night’s 2023 NBA draft.

“It’s a dream come true,” Bufkin said afterwards in his ESPN interview. “I’m just looking forward to getting to ATL and being competitive and going hard.”

“We’re here. Grand Rapids, Michigan is here!” his mom Kimberly said.

Bufkin — despite being a McDonald’s AllAmerican as a senior at Grand Rapids Christian — wasn’t even on the NBA radar prior to his second season in Ann Arbor.

The combo guard played 28 games, all off the bench, as a freshman in the 2021-22 season. He averaged three points and just more than 10 minutes per game.

But with a full offseason of health and a year of collegiate experience under his belt, Bufkin made notable strides as a shooter, scorer and perimeter defender.

The 6-foot-4, 187-pounder averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 2022-23 and shot 48.2% from the floor, 35.5% on 3pointers and 84.9% on free throws. He was named third-team All-Big Ten by coaches.

Bufkin was often at his best getting to the basket; he was one of the leaders in the Big Ten among finishers at the rim at a 71.1% rate while his improved outside shooting was perhaps the most notable development.