NC State transfer Manny Bates has committed to Butler, he told College Hoops Today on Wednesday.
Getting to know Coach Thad Matta and the staff, I got to understand their mindset,” Bates said. “Coach Matta talked to me about molding me as a man — not just a basketball player. That went a long way with me.”
A prolific shot blocker, the 6-11 Bates averaged 2.8 blocks during the first two years of his college career, but only appeared in one game last season due to a shoulder injury. Two years ago as a sophomore, he averaged 9.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks.
Bates told College Hoops Today that he’s going to be fully cleared in a few weeks.
Butler finished 14-19 last season under LaVall Jordan, who was fired and replaced by Matta.
The Bulldogs return three perimeter players who averaged 6.8 points or more last season in Simas Lukosius (6.8), Jayden Taylor (8.2), and Chuck Harris (11.4).
Matta said a few weeks ago on the College Hoops Today Podcast that Butler will take a foreign tour later this summer to both Italy and Greece.
Leftovers
- Utah State, Memphis to start home-and-home series on February 14th in Logan
- CBS Sports Podcast (6/5) — Virginia’s Ryan Odom
- Illinois, Texas Tech to start home-and-home series on November 11th in Champaign
- UConn, Kansas to begin home-and-home series on December 2nd in Lawrence
- CBS Sports Podcast (6/2) — Florida State’s Luke Loucks
