The Highlander

Issue date: 3/14/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brett Stakelin

Ask Brandon Butler's coach to talk about a great game that he had recently, and you're more likely to hear about Butler's personality traits than his basketball statistics.

Ask a former teammate about Butler's best assets as a player, and instead of telling you about his quickness or leaping ability, he'll tell you about his work ethic and attitude.

Tell a current teammate that you would like to do an interview about a recent game, and he'll probably redirect your questions to Butler. "This is who you want. You want to talk to the man, right?"

Anyone who saw Butler play during his two seasons at Regis knows that he was an exceptional basketball player. The 6 foot 5 forward led Regis in scoring both years and was twice selected to the All-RMAC second-team. So it's no secret that he could play ball. But what may still be a secret to basketball fans is that Butler the person is actually more impressive than Butler the player.

"Brandon is a fine young man," said Lonnie Porter, Regis' head basketball coach. "I couldn't ask for a better person to coach. He's just a fine person. You aren't going to find anybody with anything bad to say about Brandon. His character is awesome. Everybody likes him."

The only people who may not like Butler are last season's opponents, who Butler torched for 18.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. To be honest, his game was not all that enthralling to watch. He hardly ever shot from outside five feet. He wasn't one for dunks or fancy moves, and, if anything, his style could be described as methodical. Nearly all of his buckets came off of bulldozing, stop-me-if-you-can forays into the paint or workman-like offensive putbacks.

But what he lacked in style he made up for with efficiency. His 63.2 field goal percentage was ninth in the nation. And it didn't matter that everyone knew Butler made his living within a one meter radius of the hoop.

He still had the sixth best points per game average in the conference and a team-high 11 double-doubles. His name appeared atop almost every statistical category for the Rangers (that includes three-point percentage; he was one for one).

Butler was Regis' most valuable player in his two seasons here. But it was a long shot that he ever donned Regis blue and gold in the first place.

"Our chances of getting him were very slim," Porter said. "Division I [schools] were recruiting him, but we just kept at it, kept at it. He turned down some of our rivals in the conference and about three Division I [schools]."

Continued...

Page 1 of 5 next >

Article Tools