The University of Mississippi Athletics
2018-19 Men's Basketball Roster
KJ Buffen
- Class:
- Freshman
- Position:
- Forward
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-7 / 220
- Experience:
- HS
- Hometown:
- Gainesville, Ga.
- High School:
- Gainesville
- Major:
- Multi-Disciplinary Studies
CAREER: Played in 91 games over three seasons, making 55 starts … Scored 740 points, averaging 8.1 ppg to go along with 5.0 rpg … Shot 49.4 percent (269 of 545) from the floor, 29.1 percent (16 of 55) from beyond the arc and 67.9 percent (186 of 274) from the charity stripe … Earned three letters.
2020-21 (JUNIOR): Played in 26 games, making 21 starts and averaging 22.7 minutes per game … Ranked fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 8.4 points per game … Also averaged 4.5 rebounds per game … Shot 49.7 percent (79 of 159) from the field, 38.9 percent (7 of 18) from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent (54 of 81) from the free throw line … Scored in double figures in nine games, including a season-high 18 points versus Wichita State (1/2) … Produced the third double-double of his career in the win over Kentucky (3/2) with 16 points and 10 rebounds (tied career high) … Reached double digits in five consecutive games from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2, averaging 14.4 ppg during the hot scoring stretch.
2019-20 (SOPHOMORE): One of two Rebels to start all 32 games, averaging 29.5 minutes per game … Recorded 10.1 ppg and a team-high 6.1 rpg … His rebounding ranked 17th in the SEC … Tallied 1.4 steals per game to rank ninth in the conference … Led the Rebels with 28 blocks … Shot 50.4 percent (122 of 242) from the field, 23.8 percent (5 of 21) from beyond the arc and 67.9 percent (74 of 109) from the free throw line … Scored double figures in 17 games, including three 20-point games … Brought down at least eight rebounds in 13 contests … Recorded the first two double-doubles of his career, tallying 12 points and 10 rebounds versus Arkansas (1/11) as well as 13 points and 10 rebounds versus Missouri (3/4) … Scored a career-high 23 points in the win over Norfolk State (11/12) … Had 13 points while leading the team with nine rebounds, six assists (career high) and four steals (career high) in a comeback victory over Penn State (11/27) in Brooklyn, helping him land on the NIT Tip-Off All-Tournament Team … Scored 20 points at Florida (1/14), his most in an SEC game, with the help of going 10 of 11 at the free throw line … Produced a career-high three blocks versus Tennessee Tech (12/29), tying for the most by a Rebel during the season.
2018-19 (FRESHMAN): Came off the bench in 31 of the 33 games, averaging 20.9 minutes per game to lead the reserves, but started a pair of SEC contests ... Averaged 6.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg (second on team) and 0.8 spg … Shot 47.2 percent (68 of 144) from the field, 25.0 percent (4 of 16) from beyond the arc and 69.0 percent (58 of 84) from the free throw line … Registered 16 blocks to rank third on the team … Reached double figures in scoring five times throughout the season … Scored a season-high 17 points and went 8 for 8 from the free throw line at Florida (1/30) … Contributed 16 points off the bench to help the Rebels knock off No. 10 Auburn (1/9) … Scored 14 points and dished out a season-high four assists in a win over Missouri (2/16) … Pulled down at least six rebounds in nine different games, including a season-high nine versus Middle Tennessee (12/21).
HIGH SCHOOL: Listed as a four-star forward and the No. 7 player in the state of Georgia by ESPN.com … Three-star prospect according to 247Sports and Rivals.com … Earned four letters at Gainesville High School under head coach Benjie Wood … Averaged 24.6 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game as a senior, earning first team all-state honors and getting named Region 8-AAAAAA Player of the Year … Led the Red Elephants to a 25-5 record and a spot in the state championship game, the school’s first appearance in the state finals since 2013 … One of only 15 players named to the Atlanta Tipoff Club All-Metro High School Boys Team … As a junior, earned Class 6A All-State honors while averaging 20.2 ppg and 8.0 rpg … Guided Gainesville to the first of back-to-back Lanierland Tournament titles and helped the team advance to the state quarterfinals … Averaged 16.0 ppg as a sophomore and 14.6 ppg as a freshman.
