Tough, downhill guard who plays with a physical edge. He has a quick first step, attacks the paint in straight lines and is willing to take contact at the rim. A capable catch-and-shoot threat, he forces defenders to close out, which opens his driving lanes. Defensively, he’s physical at the point of attack, with active hands and quick feet on the ball. He sets the tone with his toughness and competitive edge.

He attacked the basket with purpose, absorbing contact and finishing through defenders around the rim. His ability to decelerate was just as effective, stopping sharply off the dribble and rising into mid-range jumpers with good lift. He maintained balance through those stops, allowing him to get into his shot without his momentum carrying him forward.

One of the more polished offensive guards on the floor, he used a tight handle and very few dribbles to create separation and work into quality scoring opportunities. He scored it from all three levels, stretching the defense from beyond the arc, rising comfortably into his mid-range pull-up, and finishing around the basket with touch, balance, and body control. His ability to generate offense without over-dribbling stood out, allowing him to play with pace while keeping the defense off balance. On the defensive end, he embraced difficult assignments, pressured the basketball, navigated screens well, and disrupted offensive rhythm.

Butler is one of the best pure passers in SoCal’s 2028 class. The 6-foot-1 rising sophomore plays with composure and poise, manages pace and tempo and has that feel for the game where he sees the game a step or two ahead of the defense. Butler is a smooth creator and high IQ table setter for teammates who delivers on-time and on-target passes.