Breaking Down Rising Guard Jase Butler's Commitment to Illinois


THE LEAD

Jase Butler, a slick guard out of California that cracked 2024's Top-150 this summer, has committed to Illinois. The 6-5 guard chose the Illini over New Mexico, Loyola Marymount, San Francisco, Colorado State and UCSB.

BACKGROUND

Seems to be year in and year out that new prospects ascend late in their high school careers out of NorCal -- that was the case this spring for Jase Butler. The Branson School (CA) guard had been prime a target for a number of mid-majors all across the West Coast, but after a strong few months with Jalen Green Elite, Illinois along with a few other high majors began to loom. After getting the 6-5 guard on campus for an official, Illinois sealed the deal.

SOUND BITE

"Great size and a high IQ. Plays with pace and really passes it. A Kendall Marshall type of guard." -- Anonymous assistant coach

 WHAT'S NEXT?

With Morez Johnson and Jason Jakstys already in the fold, the Illini will move on to 2025. Johnson is among the more ready-to-produce prospects nationally in 2024 and should make his presence felt in Champaign before long. The board is wide right now looking at the junior class, but Jeremiah Fears, Jamarion Batemon, Chuck Love, Dorian Jones and Aleks Alston among others look to be a few of focus for Underwood and company. No one in the Big Ten is set to lose more than Illinois this offseason due to exhausted eligibility, so the portal will certainly play a factor.

MY TAKE

A highly intriguing upside play for Illinois, identifying Butler as a versatile combo-guard with untapped potential. Butler has a craft-based game and has shown the ability to swiftly shift between on and off ball duties. The biggest strength is the 6-5 guard's feel for the game and basketball IQ. Fantastic instincts, sees the floor at a high level and processes defenses briskly. Streaky at times in 3SSB and can be prone to tough shot attempts on the perimeter, but has shown the ability to score at all three levels and is proficient around the rim when he gets there (88th percentile with JGE). The ultra-confident lefty has a pure, quick trigger stroke and scores it in bunches. The Cali product's physical development will be key to getting on the floor as both a defender and as a space creator offensively. At times, he's been forced to rely on his shot-making and pull-up game because he didn't have the second gear to blow by on-ball defenders, but when alongside other handlers who can tilt a defense off the bounce, his offensive game should scale up smoothly in time. Similar to Jakstys, it'll be a process with the weight room playing additional importance, but the potential reward is high for the late-blooming, overlooked guard stocked with craft.

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