Grizzlies feature five prospects

Butler County Community College figures to be a busy stop on the juco recruiting trail this spring. While two Grizzly players have already signed, three more will do so in the spring.

Tony Durant inked with Towson early on.

"He can step out and shoot the three, but he's getting a lot better about knowing when to shoot," said acting head coach Mike Bargen. "In high school, he had the freedom to shoot just about whenever he wanted because he was 6-8 at a small school in Kansas and there were not a lot of things he couldn't get done. He is doing a much better job of recognizing when to step out and shoot and he has really become a force for us down on the block."

Meanwhile, Ryan Daniels signed early with Drake.

"They were interested in him out of high school, but didn't really have a spot," Bargen said. "We saw five minutes of tape on him and loved him."

Daniels will have three years to play at Drake.

The Grizzlies feature three other likely Division One players. One of them is already nearly set in his destination. Tyree Evans nearly signed with Kansas State last season, however some off-court legal issues forced Evans to go jucol.

"Most people understand that is probably where he's going to end up if he's given the chance to go there because of his relationship with Coach Huggins," Bargen said. "They've really supported each other."

Ed Jones could potentially end up following Evans to the Big 12.

"Texas A&M has watched him and likes him," Bargen said. "Butler, Utah State, Texas A&M Corpus Christi have all been calling on him. He is a mid-major to high-major player, but probably on the lower end of the high-major spectrum."

The fifth player is Donnel Reaves.

"He is an athlete without any real position," Bargen said. "But he could play at just about any level because of his strength and athleticism."

Bargen said teams like Centenary and Georgia Southern have called on Reaves.

"Georgia Southern said they don't really need that position, but if he's floating out there, they've got to take him," the coach said. "He just plays so hard that you have to have him on the floor."

JucoJunction will follow the Butler prospects throughout the season.