Butler Basketball: Early preview of 2020-21 Bulldogs roster and rotation

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 21: Aaron Thompson #2 of the Butler Bulldogs dribbles the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 21, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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VILLANOVA, PA – JANUARY 21: The Butler Bulldogs logo (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Wings for Butler Basketball

Christian David, SR – 2.6 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Graduation, early NBA entry, and the transfer portal have left Butler in a precarious position on the wing, and what an opportunity that is for David. The highly-rated prospect out of Canada was seemingly finding his niche within the Butler program last season when he tore his ACL early on in Big East play and was sidelined for the remainder of the year. David is a decent defender in the post and has shown he can also guard on the perimeter, but it just hasn’t all come together for him in three seasons as a Bulldog.

The real key for David in carving out a role on this team will be his ability to make strides on the offensive end. There have been flashes, i.e. a game-winning 3-ball against St. John prior to injury in his junior campaign, but the inconsistency is frustrating for Butler fans. Too often he disappears, and with the incoming freshman forwards entering the fold David is going to have to do more on both ends of the floor. As a senior, the “the little things” that don’t show up in a box score won’t be enough.

Scooby Johnson, FR – Benton Harbor, MI #140 recruit

The 6’6 wing/forward combo was Michigan’s Mr. Basketball and boy is he talented. Johnson is a great athlete, but he also has a high basketball IQ that fits the Butler Way. He declined offers from Michigan State and West Virginia among a litany of others and should fit into the Butler rotation immediately. He is a stat sheet stuff, averaging 25 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks per game as a senior who led Benton Harbor High School to a state championship in his freshman high school season.

Markeese Hasting, SO – 1.0 Pts, 1.1 Reb, 0.0 Ast

The 2018 second-team all-state honoree out of the Greater Grand Rapids area redshirted his first season at Butler and then only saw game action seven times in 19-20. He is a project, but he can guard any position 1-5 and is an unbelievable athlete. There is definitely intrigue with Hastings, and with playing time seemingly available on the wing there’s a chance he finds some type of role.