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Brian Butch Basketball Camps

Camp Director Brian Butch

Brian Butch was the center on the 2003 McDonald’s All-American basketball team.

He later attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was signed by the Denver Nuggets of the NBA in 2010.

High School Career
An Appleton West High School graduate, Brian was a two-time Wisconsin State Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He averaged 22.8 points and 10.1 rebounds as a senior, leading Appleton West High School to a 23-3 record and the Division 1 State Championship game in 2003. He broke a 35-year old Wisconsin state tournament record by scoring 45 points in the quarterfinals. He is also Appleton West’s All-time leading scorer with 1,431 points.

Brian was later named a 2003 McDonald’s All-American where he shared the court with players such as LeBron James, Chris Paul.

Collegiate Career
As a freshman, Brian played in 27 games, averaging 9.7 minutes, 3.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, Butch was named academic All-Big Ten, and helped the Badgers reach the Elite Eight. 

As a sophomore, Brian played in 31 games, averaging 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds. He scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed career high 12 rebounds vs. Penn State in the same game.

In his junior year, he played in 30 games before severely dislocating his elbow.

For the season, he averaged 8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds,.He increased his career-high scoring mark to 27  points in an 89-75 win versus then-ranked #2 University of Pittsburgh. The Big Ten conference’s coaches selected Butch as All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.

In his senior year, the Badgers posted the most wins in school history with a 31-5 record. Playing in 36 games, Brian’s stats include: 12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg en route to Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament Championships and earning a to trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The Big Ten conference’s coaches named Butch First Team 2007-08 All-Big Ten Basketball Team, as-well-as Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree.

Professional Career

In July 2008, Brian began playing Las Vegas summer league games for the Memphis Grizzlies in hopes of getting a contract with the team after going undrafted.

On December 9, 2008 Brian was sought out by the Giants Nördlingen to fill a center position. He also played in the Greek League with Ilisiakos.

In December 2009, Brian signed with the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League. As the Jam’s starting center, he was awarded a spot on the D-League Western Conference All-Star team.

Coming off the bench, he was named the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player.

Brian signed with the Denver Nuggets on April 4th, 2010. Brian was released by the Nuggets in on August 15th, 2010. He suffered a server knee injury that summer and rehabed for a full 15 months. After his rehab he played for Team USA in the Pan-American games in 2011. After the NBA lockout Brian attended training camp with the New Orleans Hornets. Due to an injury he was released on Dec. 22, 2011. After months of rehab he returned to the Bakersfield Jam and the NBA D-league. After another year with Bakersfield Brian was traded to the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants. Brian played with Ft. Wayne for a month before he signed with the Meralco Bolts in the Philippines. His next yeat he played in Dubai. In 2016 Brian played in Japan and he is currently playing in Japan again this season. 

Professional Detail

  • 2008: Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft): 3 games: 14.0ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.7spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 42.9%.
  • 2008 June: Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Seattle Supersonics, Boston Celtics (Veteran minicamp), Atlanta Hawks (summer league) pre-draft workout (NBA).
  • 2008 July: NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (Memphis Grizzlies).
  • 2008: Drafted by Minot Skyrockets (CBA,1rd(5)).
  • 2008-2009: CD Villa de Los Barrios (Spain-LEB Gold) Jiangsu Nangang Dragons Nanjing (China-CBA) Giants Noerdlingen (Germany-1.Bundesliga) 20 games: 10.6ppg, 5.5rpg
  • 2009-2010: Ilysiakos Athens (Greece-A1), Greek League: 3 games: 14.0ppg, 5.3rpg; left in Nov.’09, in Dec.’09 moved to Bakersfield Jam (D-League, starting five): 39 games: 17.7ppg, 11.9rpg in 
  • April 4, 2010  :Butch was signed by the Denver Nuggets
  • 2010 July: NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (Denver Nuggets).
  • 2010-2011: Denver Nuggets (NBA).
  • 2011-2012: Bakersfield Jam, New Orleans Hornets (Training Camp), Athleticos de San German (Puerto Rico) 
  • 2012-2013: Bakersfield Jam, Traded to Ft. Wayne Mad Ants, Meralco Bolts (Philippines) 
  •  2013-2014: Played for Sharja Club (Dubai, UAE) 
  • 2015-2016: Played for Toshiba Basktball (Tokyo, Japan)
  • 2016-2017:  Played for the Fukuoka Rizing Zephyrs (Fukuoka, Japan) 

Achievements & Awards

  • 2001-2002 Wisconsin High School AP Player of the Year
  • 2002-2003 Wisconsin State Tournament Division 1 single game scoring record with 45 points in the quarterfinals
  • 2002-2003 Wisconsin High School AP Player of the Year
  • 2002-2003 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball presented by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association
  • 2002-2003 McDonald’s All-American
  • 2004-2005 Academic All-Big Ten
  • 2006-2007 All-Big Ten Coaches Honorable Mention
  • 2007-2008 Consensus All-Big Ten First Team Selection
  • 2007-2008 Big Ten Champions
  • 2007-2008 Big Ten Tournament Champions
  • 2010 NBA D-League All-Star Game MVP (Haier Shooting Stars Co-Winner)
  • 2010 NBA All-D-League 2nd Team
  • 2010 D-League Impact Player of the Year
  • 2011 Pan American Bronze Medal Winner (Team USA) 
  • 2013 NBA All D-League 1st Team 
  • 2016 Japan Championship (Toshiba Brave Thunders) 

After Playing Career: 

Brian was an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks G-League team the Wisconsin Herd for two years. As well as been a co-host on the morning show BJ and The Bear on The Score in Appleton, WI. Brian also hosts a Statewide radio show called Nine to Noon on Iheart Radio with former Packer John Kuhn. Brian is also a anaylst and studio host for the Big Ten Network.