College Sports

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer

Head coach Tom Crean's departure from the Marquette basketball team two weeks ago caused a ripple effect at Tyler Junior College that didn't calm down until Thursday.

That's when TJC freshman Jimmy Butler announced that he was signing with the Big East program, joining two other Apaches who are also headed to Marquette.

Joseph Fulce signed in November, and TJC assistant coach Scott Monarch will be joining the Golden Eagles staff under new head coach Buzz Williams. The two coaches were together one season at the University of New Orleans (2006-07).

TJC announced two other Division I signings - Karnack's Malcolm Thomas with Louisiana-Monroe and Chasity Shavers with San Jose State.

Butler's decision caught the media by surprise after TJC had sent out an e-mail Wednesday night regarding just Thomas and Shavers.

"Last night I talked to my family, I talked to coach Monarch here, I talked to Joe about the whole Marquette situation," Butler said. "It looks pretty good about the education and everything. So I thought it was a good choice.

"I've been leaning that way for a while, but last night I just decided to make the commitment."

Butler, a 6-6, 215-pound guard or small forward, ended his brief Juco career in spectacular fashion with 43 points in a 123-121 triple-overtime loss to Panola in the Region XIV Tournament.

The Tomball High School graduate averaged 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game for the Apaches. Butler took official visits to Iowa State and Mississippi State. Ironically, he hasn't visited Marquette yet.

"I know that coach Monarch's going to take care of me when I get up there," Butler said.

Marquette went 25-10 last season, 11-7 in the Big East, and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

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Thomas, a 6-6, 200-pound shooting guard, picked Louisiana-Monroe because of the close relationship he's developed with head coach Orlando Early and assistant Tom Coverdale. Coverdale was a standout guard on Indiana's 2002 team that made the NCAA championship game.

Impressed with the high-flying Thomas' athleticism, Louisiana-Monroe started recruiting him early and they stayed in contact during the season.

"They want me to be the leading scorer," Thomas said. "It depends on how much work I put in to be successful."

Thomas, who averaged 14 points per game, was TJC's leader in 3-pointers, steals and highlight-reel dunks.

"My athleticism for the Sun Belt is real high," Thomas said. "I believe I can play almost anywhere. I'm a high-major athlete; I just went to a mid-major conference. I'm excited about it."

The Warhawks went 10-21 last season, 4-14 in the Sun Belt.

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Shavers, a 5-11 guard, always dreamed of playing Division I basketball. She realized that dream with San Jose State, a program that is rebuilding after turning over its roster following a 3-28 campaign.

"Out of most of the schools that recruited me, they stuck by me the whole year," said Shavers, who averaged 10.4 points per game last season and led the conference in 3-point percentage.

Her only ties to the state of California - where she had never been until the official visit - are having a few cousins there.

"It's definitely going to be a transition for me, but I think it will be good for me later on in life, just to get away from home and be out on my own," she said.

Shavers said she is capable of playing the two, three or four position at San Jose State, which competes in the Western Athletic Conference.

"They like that I can shoot and take people off the dribble," Shavers said.

MOVING ON: TJC basketball players (from left) Malcolm Thomas (Louisiana-Monroe), Jimmy Butler (Marquette) and Chasity Shaver (San Jose State) signed basketball scholarships on Thursday.
(Staff Photo By Joe Buie)