Keith Butler Talks About His Decision
Keith Butler, a 7-0, 250 pound center from Celestial Prep H.S. in Philadelphia, Penn., signed a national letter of intent with Temple University last week.
The Insiders Report/Rivalshoops.com caught up with Butler on Thursday night after he scored 20 points in Celestial's 105-100 loss to Hargrave Military Academy at Temple University.
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In an in depth interview with the Insiders Report, Butler shared his thoughts on why he picked Temple over a number of other high major schools that recruited him this past summer and fall.
IR: Keith, what were your reasons for picking Temple over the other schools involved?
KB: I liked the situation up here and I liked Coach Chaney. I thought this would be a better situation for me.
IR: Anything specifically you like about the situation with Temple?
KB: I like Philly actually. I like Philly a lot. I have a family around here, so I think it would be pretty good for me.
IR: Now you took a lot of visits this fall. You went to Temple, Cincinnati, Miami, Illinois and North Carolina. When you looked at all of the visits, can you talk about what you looked at with each one, some of your likes and dislikes?
KB: I like the city more. I am not too much of a country person. Philly is a city that I like, plus I had been here before, so it made me feel comfortable.
IR: Can you go through each school real quickly? How about Miami?
KB: I liked Miami a lot. It was real nice down there. I liked the coaches, but I liked it better up here.
IR: How about North Carolina? What did you like and not like about the situation there?
KB: I liked the situation there, but I did not like the fact that it was kind of in the country. It's a college town, and I am more of a city person. I liked the coaches and all of that. I felt real comfortable down there, but I need the city.
IR: How about Illinois, what did you think about them?
KB: Pretty much the same thing as North Carolina.
IR: What did you think about Cincinnati?
KB: Cincinnati is pretty cool. I liked it out there. Cincinnati and Temple were my last two choices. It just came down to the situation.
IR: If you had to rank the schools from one to five where they finished, where would you rank them? Obviously, Temple finished first and Cincy second.
KB: Miami finished third.
IR: Where did UNC and Illinois finish?
KB: Kind of the same.
IR: There was a lot made about the you and the North Carolina situation, that they backed off you or you backed off them. Can you talk about that?
KB: They backed off because of my academic situation. That was the only problem that they had because of my previous academic years were not the best.
IR: Did that surprise you when the decided to back off, because obviously they had you in for a visit late last month?
KB: No, I was not mad at them about it. It was more or less my fault of how I did in my previous years, so I can't blame it on them.
IR: Were you surprised that they had you come in for a visit when your academic situation was unsettled?
KB: I knew about the academic situation, and they just said they were not sure yet and they would have to let me know about it. I was kind of somewhat expecting it.
IR: For Temple fans who have not seen you play, what does Keith Butler bring to the table?
KB: I will bring a little bit of everything. Some excitement.
IR: Is this the first time you played here at McGonigle Hall?
KB: No, I played here in the Sonny Hill Tournament (for BABC).
IR: Did the fact that Temple takes non and partial qualifiers play any role in your decision?
KB: No, not really, because I am going to qualify.
IR: What do you like about Coach Chaney?
KB: I like him because he is a people person. And he treats me like a father. That's why I like him a lot.
IR: Do you think you can get up for 6 a.m. practices?
KB: I am going to have to, so I am going to have to get used to it quick.