On the heels of another high-profile high school recruit turning down an offer from Butler University, this time Zak Irvin, Butler got news that junior Arkansas sharp-shooter Rotnei Clarke was transferring to play for Brad Stevens.
Regarded by many as one of the nation’s best shooters, Clarke will sit out this upcoming year while learning the Butler system before he takes the floor with an already highly touted 2012-2013 Butler recruiting class. Clarke choose the Bulldogs over his home-state Sooners, despite many reports on social media that he was headed back to Oklahoma.
Last year at Arkansas, Clarke averaged 15.2 points with an accuracy of 44 percent from the three point line. He ended the year on a scoring spree and over the last eight games of the season recorded 25, 14, 21, 26, 17, 24, 26, and 18 point games against SEC competition.
As the saying goes – “When one door closes, another one opens.” Butler might continue to have trouble signing unproven high school players, but what they got in return this time was a seasoned scoring veteran who, himself, held offers from Kentucky, Duke, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Marquette, Missouri State, Gonzaga coming out of high school.
So look out America, Butler won’t be going away any time soon.
Butler is going to be simply loaded at the guard position in 2012. They are going to have multiple shooters, multiple creators, and several guys who can also defend like hell out on the perimeter. They aren’t going to have much margin for error down low, but if they can get one more big to step up and give them solid minutes (and I think they can) they are going to be a hell of a team.
This is a solid pickup for Butler. They are normally a team that doesn’t reach out to players looking to transfer but this is seems well worth it. After losing Mack to the draft and Nored next year, this guy can help fill the void.