Jimmy Butler, SG

Butler wasn't heavily recruited coming out of high school and chose to attend local Tyler Junior College before finding a home with the Golden Eagles. He became the 42nd player in school history to score at least 1,000 points. He also became just the 19th player at MU with 1,000 points (1,277) and 500 rebounds (579), while his 461 successful free throws placed third in school annals.

The swingman was a late bloomer who didn't compete in basketball until his junior year at Tomball High School. He earned All-District honors during his senior campaign, as the team captain averaged 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds that season, improving from the 10.0-point average he contributed as a junior.

At Tyler Junior College, Butler received All-American honorable mention after guiding the team to a 25-4 record in 2007-08. He finished with averages of 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, helping the Apaches to a 10th-place finish in the junior college national ranking and capture the program's first outright league title in 21 seasons.

After his freshman season, Butler transferred to Marquette University, where, as a sophomore, he averaged just 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, as well as a .769 free-throw percentage. He moved into the starting lineup as a junior during the 2009-10 season and averaged 14.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, earning All-Big East Conference honorable mention.

Butler was again selected All-Big East honorable mention as a senior. He produced 582 points (15.7 points per game) while grabbing 225 rebounds (6.1 rpg). While his scoring progressed from the previous season, it was his shutdown defense that helped the Golden Eagle limit their opponents to just 68.8 points per game.

Positives: Very athletic for a small forward, showing the lateral quickness that has also earned him playing time at shooting guard and tempts coaches to allow him to defend almost any player on the floor … Tenacious defensive player with the length and speed to stay in front of the perimeter shooters (held 25-of-37 opponents last year to under double figures) … Very aggressive attacking the glass and is a deft ball handler with enough passing ability and court vision to play the point (had 86 assists last season) … Slippery enough to get under the power forwards to secure the ball off the offensive boards (90-of-225 rebounds came from the offensive end last season) … Keeps the opponent honest, as they have to constantly put a man on him when he begins firing from mid-range, as he is very consistent with his jumpers … Creates his own shots off the dribble and also shows good hands to field the ball off the screens, pull up and uncork a nice jumper … Can absorb contact well and is a solid finisher in transition … His ability to draw contact has seen him get lots of opportunities at the charity stripe, where he's connected at a .773 clip (188 made free throws as a senior rank third and 187 as a junior rank fourth on the school season-record list and his total of 461 is third in Marquette annals) … Is quick to read defensive schemes and scans the court well to dish the ball off to a team-mate rather than take an off-target shot off the dribble … Uses his left hand well on the reverse lay-up, getting most of his scoring when attacking from the weak-side … Likes to play his man tight, utilizing his strength well on pressure defense situations … Knows how to deliver an array of pump fakes to get his man off-balance prior to shooting and shows good strength coming off screens, using his jab steps to gain separation … Also uses his power well to drive to the basket and go all the way to the hoop, drawing contact along the way (needs to improve his free throw shooting release though).

Negatives: Has good quickness up and down the court, but lacks the explosion to consistently fly past defenders on the way to the basket … The quicker guards can contain him from shooting off the dribble (does a better job vs. slower forwards) … Shows good tenacity attacking the glass, but for some reason, despite a 6'7 1/2" wing span, he does not time his leaps well when trying to alter an opponent's shot (just 13 blocks in 37 games last season) … When he gets pushed out of the lanes, he does not have confidence in his long range skills to retreat to the perimeter, and will revert to either forcing his shot in traffic or take too much time trying to find the open outlet to pass the ball too … Needs to drill the ball quicker when firing from mid-range (takes time to get his shot off, giving a good leaper a chance to alter his shot) … Needs to improve his outside shooting mechanics (shoots with the ball ear-high) … While he is a decent passer and good ball thief, he tends to dribble high and lacks great arch when firing from mid-range (generates too much motion, causing him to have an erratic release point that can be too slow and deliberate at times).

Compares To: THABO SEFALOSHA, Oklahoma City Thunder -- Butler is a nice combination player with the strength but not the size of a power forward. He shows enough mid-range shooting skills to play small forward and he creates good mismatches due to his size and length when lining up at shooting guard. Butler is very aggressive going to the basket and that ability to draw contact will earn him favor with NBA coaches. He does rely on his off hand when going to the hoop and is physical with perimeter shooters to generate solid pressure defense, but has to work on timing his leaps to become a better shot blocker, especially if he's asked to defend bigger wings.

--Dave Te' Thomas

All-Big East Conference honorable mention … Started 35-of-37 games, finishing second on the team in scoring with 582 points (15.73 points per game), the 12th-best season total by a Golden Eagles performer … Made 187-of-382 field goals (49.0 percent), 20-of-58 treys (34.5 percent) and 188-of-240 free throws (78.3 percent), as his 188 made free throws placed third on the school season-record chart … Had 225 rebounds (6.08 rpg), 86 assists (2.3 apg), 13 blocks and led the team with 53 steals (1.4 spg).

All-Big East Conference honorable mention … Claimed Marquette's Most Improved Player Award … Finished among the league's leaders in four categories, including scoring (20th, 14.7 points per game.) and field goal percentage (8th, .530) … Totaled 499 points on 148-of-279 field goals (53.0 percent), hitting on 50 percent of his treys (16-of-32) … His 187 free throws (on 244 chances; 76.6 percent) rank fourth on the school season-record list … Added 216 rebounds (6.35 rpg), 68 assists (2.0 apg), 21 blocks and 45 steals (1.3 spg).

Earned MU's "Super Sub" Award, as Butler finished 15th in the Big Esast Conference in free throw percentage (.768; 86-of-112) … Led the team's reserves in scoring 22 times, including each of the team's last 15 games … Totaled 196 points (5.6 points per game) on 55-of-107 field goals (51.4 percent) … grabbed 138 rebounds (3.9 rpg) and had 26 assists, 16 blocks and 17 steals.

NJCAA All-American honorable mention at Tyler (Tex.) Junior College, playing for head coach Mike Marquis … Averaged 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, as the first team all-region selection helped guide the Apaches to a national ranking of 10th in the country and the program's first outright league title in 21 seasons … Finished third in the league in scoring … Shot 54.8 percent from the field and 42.2 percent from behind the three-point line, as the team posted an overall record of 25-4.

In 106 games at Marquette, Butler scored 1,277 points (12.047 points per game), the 28th-best total in school annals … His career-best 582 points as a senior rank 12th on the Golden Eagles' season-record chart … Made 390-of-768 field goals (50.8 percent) and 36-of-94 treys (34.5 percent) … Hit on 77.3 percent of his free throws (596 attempts), as his 461 successful free throws rank third in school history … His 188 made free throws in 2010-11 and 187 in 2009-10 rank third and fourth, respectively, on the Marquette annual record chart … Snared 579 rebounds (5.46 rpg) to go with 50 blocks, 115 steals (1.09 spg) and 180 assists (1.7 apg).

Lettered twice in basketball at Tomball (Tex.) High School under head coach Brad Ball … First team all-district selection as a senior, as the team captain averaged 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game … Contributed nearly 10.0 points per game as a junior.

Communication Studies major … Son of Londa and Jimmy Butler … Born 9/14/89 in Houston, Texas.