Mugo Pine - back budding?

[RhyleeRebecca]

Hello all, just got this teenie ugly duckling of a Mugo (Mountain) Pine for $14 but I think it has potential. My question is this: it has a cluster of stubs right at the center where the trunk thins out (see photos), is there an opportunity for those to back bud with this species? Or is it hopeless and I should just prune them off. Any advice appreciated! See pics attached.

 

[Shibui]

Mugho occasionally back buds from bare wood but not much more reliable than the other main bonsai species so I would not stake all your hopes on that. Most growers rely on grafting to get new shoots where they want them.
Why do you want extra shoots there? Already looks like you have enough branches for that sized tree. More is just likely to overcrowd the shape, especially when the current branches grow and fill out a bit.

 

[0soyoung]

A vigorously healthy mugo will back bud on old/bare wood, but I don't think that will happen with this tree for many years, if ever.
So, pursue that potential you saw when you bought it. Most of the fun is in the journey, anyway.