Butler Basketball: Dawgs make final six for Towson transfer Allen Betrand

Butler basketball made the final six for Towson transfer Allen Betrand. How might the sit-one, play-two guard fit with the Dawgs?

Butler basketball’s work in the 2020 transfer portal does not appear to be quite finished yet. After the Dawgs secured a graduate addition in the form of Jair Bolden, they are still in the market for another piece. With one scholarship available pending Jordan Tucker’s looming NBA Draft decision, the Dawgs are remaining active with targeting some potential transfers.

While the likes of Ishmael El-Amin and Drew Peterson might still be linked to Butler, the most notable current target appears to be Allen Betrand. The Towson transfer recently cut his list to just six schools and included Butler, Richmond, Minnesota, Rhode Island, DePaul, and Dayton. He is currently listed as a sit-one, play-two transfer.

A 6-foot-5 multipositional guard capable of scoring at all three levels, it is easy to see the appeal in targeting Betrand. He is well-known as an incredibly hard-worker that is constantly seeking improvement. His former coaches and teammates have spoken highly of his willingness to work and that was evident on the court during this past season as he took a significant leap.

Betrand started 31 of 32 contests as a sophomore while posting impressive averages of 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He finished second on the Tigers in both points and minutes per game as an integral part of their 19-13 (12-6 CAA) season and was named to the All-CAA Third Team for his efforts.

Perhaps most importantly, Betrand showcased tremendous growth in his shooting as he connected at high rates from 3-point range (38.7 percent) and at the free-throw line (88.6 percent). If he is able to continue improving as a shooter by increasing his volume, then he will be a dangerous scorer at his next destination. Betrand is already impressively physical with great size and that allows him to be a strong finisher at the rim.

Playmaking is perhaps the biggest worry regarding Betrand as he posted just a 0.57 assist-to-turnover ratio during this past season. This number is derived mainly from low creation numbers as he is more of a scorer than anything else on the offensive end. While he does a lot of his damage with a diverse mid-range game, Betrand also finishes at the rim well and obviously improved from beyond the arc in Year 2.

Due to his size and physicality, he can play either slot on the wing. Betrand generally fits the mold of a downhill scorer that has been steadily adding to his scoring bag of tricks since playing at the collegiate level. He is a fierce competitor and can be a solid defender as well. Betrand was often tasked with covering the opponent’s best scorer while at Towson and his efforts on that end should translate. He does not generate many turnovers but stays in front of his man well.

Butler’s interest in Betrand could easily stem from the program needing to add some experience to its backcourt moving forward. The Dawgs will be graduating both Aaron Thompson and Jair Bolden after this coming season (in which Betrand would have to sit out), leaving their backcourt filled with only underclassmen. While hopes are high for the likes of Chuck Harris and Myles Tate – among others -, there will be a definite lack of experience in Butler’s 2021-22 group of guards.

Betrand would help to solve that issue a bit as a fourth-year junior capable of playing multiple positions while on the floor. He would easily be able to find a spot in the rotation while offering a bit of change-of-pace to the backcourt as well with his size and physicality. He can also be used as a spot-up shooter thanks to his developments in that area. Additionally, Betrand could prove to be a strong leader with his work ethic on both ends of the floor.

Butler has also had success with a Towson transfer in the past. Mike Green made this exact sit-one-play-two jump from the Tigers in the mid-2000s and he was sensational with the Dawgs. He averaged 14.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game over his two years with the program and was even named the Horizon League Player of the Year in 2008.

In terms of Butler’s current scholarship situation, welcoming Betrand to the team would likely mean the end of Jordan Tucker’s time with the program. Tucker is slated to be a senior during this upcoming campaign but has entered the NBA Draft process. While he has left open the option to return to school, most expect that he will not be coming back. If that is the case, then the Dawgs will have one scholarship open to add someone like Betrand.

With all of this said, though, it will not be easy to beat the rest of Betrand’s list. Richmond, Dayton, and Rhode Island are all strong Atlantic 10 programs that have experienced their fair shares of success in recent years. Dayton, in fact, is fresh off a superb 2019-20 campaign while Richmond is projected to be a Top 25 team over this coming year. The other contenders in this recruitment are DePaul and Minnesota, both of whom have already snagged some of the best available transfers this offseason.

Betrand hinted on Twitter that he wants to commit on his birthday, which would mean making a decision on May 9th. With that date quickly approaching, it will be interesting to see how who emerges as the final destination for the talented transfer. Regardless of where he chooses to play, Betrand will be an impact performer.