Brian Butch
Encyclopedia
Brian Butch is an American
professional basketball
player. He was a center on the 2003 McDonald's All-American basketball team who later attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
on a basketball scholarship. He was briefly a member of the Denver Nuggets
of the NBA
, although he never played any games for them.
, Butch was a two-time Wisconsin
State Player of the Year by the Associated Press
. He averaged 22.8 points and 10.1 rebounds as a senior, leading Appleton West High School to a 23-3 record and the Division 1 State Championship game in 2003. Butch is also Appleton West's all-time leading scorer with 1,431 points. He broke a 35-year old Wisconsin
state tournament record by scoring 45 points in the quarterfinals, which was held at the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Kohl Center
. Butch averaged 30.8 points in four games at the Kohl Center over his prep career.
Butch was later named a 2003 McDonald's All-American ("West" squad) where he shared the court with players such as LeBron James
and Luol Deng
. He scored 6 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the nationally-televised contest. Ironically, considering basketball success, Butch's Appleton West Senior quote was, "LeBron who?".
his freshman year.
As a redshirt-freshman, Butch played in 27 games, averaging 9.7 minutes, 3.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists, and 0.3 blocks. He missed six games with mononucleosis
. He scored his then career-high 12 points versus Northwestern University
and grabbed a career-high 9 rebounds versus University of North Carolina at Greensboro
. Butch was named academic All-Big Ten
.
As a redshirt-sophomore, Butch played in 31 games, averaging 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.8 blocks. He scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed career high 12 rebounds vs. Penn State in the same game.
As a redshirt-junior, Butch played in 30 games before severely dislocating his elbow in a 49-48 loss to Ohio State on February 25, 2007. For the season, he averaged 8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.58 assists, and 0.5 blocks. He increased his career-high scoring mark to 27 points on December 16, 2006 in an 89-75 win versus then-ranked #2 University of Pittsburgh
. The Big Ten conferences coaches selected Butch as All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
As a senior, Brian Butch played in 36 games. For the season he averaged 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.8 blocks per game.
Butch was selected for USA Pan-American game trials in 2006.
On December 9, 2008 Brian Butch was sought out by the Giants Nördlingen to fill a center position. Having played in one game since joining his new team he has scored 4 points and also had 9 rebounds in 24 minutes.
Butch played in the Greek League
with Ilisiakos
in 3 games.
In December 2009, Butch signed with the Bakersfield Jam
of the D-League
. As the Jam's starting center, Butch was awarded a spot on the D-League Western Conference All-Star team
. Coming off the bench, he was named the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player.
On April 4, 2010 Butch was signed by the Denver Nuggets.
On August 15, 2010, Butch was waived by Denver.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was a center on the 2003 McDonald's All-American basketball team who later attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball
The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at the Kohl Center, located on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin....
on a basketball scholarship. He was briefly a member of the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, although he never played any games for them.
High school career
He went to Appleton West High SchoolAppleton West High School
Appleton West High School is a high school located at 610 North Badger Avenue in Appleton, Wisconsin. It is a member of the Appleton Area School District....
, Butch was a two-time Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
State Player of the Year by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. He averaged 22.8 points and 10.1 rebounds as a senior, leading Appleton West High School to a 23-3 record and the Division 1 State Championship game in 2003. Butch is also Appleton West's all-time leading scorer with 1,431 points. He broke a 35-year old Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
state tournament record by scoring 45 points in the quarterfinals, which was held at the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Kohl Center
Kohl Center
The Kohl Center is an arena and athletic center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, United States. The building, which opened in 1998, is the home of the university's men's and women's basketball and ice hockey teams. Seating capacity is variable, as the center can be rearranged to accommodate...
. Butch averaged 30.8 points in four games at the Kohl Center over his prep career.
Butch was later named a 2003 McDonald's All-American ("West" squad) where he shared the court with players such as LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
and Luol Deng
Luol Deng
Luol Deng is a South Sudanese-British professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls and the Great Britain national basketball team. He plays the small forward position.-Early life:...
. He scored 6 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the nationally-televised contest. Ironically, considering basketball success, Butch's Appleton West Senior quote was, "LeBron who?".
Collegiate career
Butch elected to redshirtRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his freshman year.
As a redshirt-freshman, Butch played in 27 games, averaging 9.7 minutes, 3.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists, and 0.3 blocks. He missed six games with mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...
. He scored his then career-high 12 points versus Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and grabbed a career-high 9 rebounds versus University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , also known as UNC Greensboro, is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States and is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master's and 26...
. Butch was named academic All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
.
As a redshirt-sophomore, Butch played in 31 games, averaging 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.8 blocks. He scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed career high 12 rebounds vs. Penn State in the same game.
As a redshirt-junior, Butch played in 30 games before severely dislocating his elbow in a 49-48 loss to Ohio State on February 25, 2007. For the season, he averaged 8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.58 assists, and 0.5 blocks. He increased his career-high scoring mark to 27 points on December 16, 2006 in an 89-75 win versus then-ranked #2 University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. The Big Ten conferences coaches selected Butch as All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
As a senior, Brian Butch played in 36 games. For the season he averaged 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.8 blocks per game.
Butch was selected for USA Pan-American game trials in 2006.
Professional career
In July 2008, Butch began playing Las Vegas summer league games for the Memphis Grizzlies in hopes of getting a contract with the team after going undrafted.On December 9, 2008 Brian Butch was sought out by the Giants Nördlingen to fill a center position. Having played in one game since joining his new team he has scored 4 points and also had 9 rebounds in 24 minutes.
Butch played in the Greek League
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
with Ilisiakos
Ilisiakos BC
Ilissiakos B.C. is a Greek professional basketball team that is located in Athens, Greece.-History:The parent athletic sports club was founded in 1927. The basketball team of Ilissiakos was established in 1968...
in 3 games.
In December 2009, Butch signed with the Bakersfield Jam
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
of the D-League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. As the Jam's starting center, Butch was awarded a spot on the D-League Western Conference All-Star team
NBA Development League All-Star Game
The NBA Development League All-Star Game is an annual exhibition basketball game held by the National Basketball Association Development League . The D-League was founded in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League . The league adopted its current name at the start of the 2005–06 season...
. Coming off the bench, he was named the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player.
On April 4, 2010 Butch was signed by the Denver Nuggets.
On August 15, 2010, Butch was waived by Denver.
Achievements and awards
- 2001-2002 Wisconsin High School AP Player of the Year
- 2002-2003 Wisconsin State Tournament Division 1 single game scoring record with 45 points in the quarterfinals
- 2002-2003 Wisconsin High School AP Player of the Year
- 2002-2003 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball presented by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association
- 2002-2003 McDonald's All-American
- 2004-2005 Academic All-Big Ten
- 2006-2007 All-Big Ten Coaches Honorable Mention
- 2007-2008 Consensus All-Big Ten First Team Selection
- 2007-2008 Big Ten Champions
- 2007-2008 Big Ten Tournament Champions
- 2010 NBA D-League All-Star Game MVP
- Spokesman for Pep's Pizza