Butler Makes It Official
As this site reported last week, point guard Jamar Butler will become a Buckeye for the 2004-2005 season. Butler, who took a visit to the Columbus campus last week, will officially declare himself Ohio State bound for local television and radio in Lima, Ohio this evening.
Butler, 6-foot-2, 190-pounds from Shawnee High School, initially had committed to Cincinnati. But as the summer moved along, Butler started to hesitate about his verbal commitment to Bob Huggins' program.
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When Butler informed Cincinnati that he was unsure of his verbal commitment, the Bearcats offered a scholarship to Vincent Banks, who accepted immediately. "It (Ohio State) was still in Ohio and close to home," Butler said. "They care a lot about academics there. I want to major in sports management."
Butler told us he thinks he will have a chance to play the lead guard slot eventually at Ohio State. "Right now they have Tony Stockman to play that," he said. "But they told me I will be able to get some time there when I arrive."
Butler is recovering from a broken right wrist. "I broke it wrestling a friend," he said. "I wrapped it up and played on it in Las Vegas (for the Big Time tournament). I wanted to play there because it was my last year of trying to do it."
Jamar had the cast put on his wrist a week ago. "I will be in it for six weeks," he said. "Right now it hurts. But I should be ready by the time the season starts."
Butler's high school season begins on December 1st. "I want to improve all parts of my game before I get to Ohio State," Butler said. "I want to get bigger and stronger. I can't do much now but do some things in the weight room with the wrist."
Butler is listed as the 61st best player in the country for the 2004 class in the Rivals150.