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LOGAN— Utah State men’s basketball coach Stew Morrill announced Monday Spencer Butterfield has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Aggies beginning in the 2012-13 season.
Butterfield, a 6-3, 205-pound guard from Loomis, Calif. (Del Oro HS) just completed his sophomore season at Yuba Community College as he led the 49ers to a 33-4 record and an appearance in the title game of the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships.
“We are excited about the signing of Spencer Butterfield and the talents he brings to our basketball program,” said Morrill. “Spencer is a hard-nosed, competitive player with very good perimeter skills. He is an excellent shooter who can handle the ball and is a willing passer. He also has the character and toughness to be a good defender.
“We expect a lot from Spencer, but no more than he expects from himself, which makes him a great addition to Utah State Basketball,” Morrill added.
As a sophomore at Yuba CC, Butterfield was named the California Junior College Co-Player of the Year as he averaged 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field, 48.2 percent from 3-point range and 81.2 percent at the free-throw line.
Butterfield was also named the Bay Valley Conference Most Valuable Player after leading the 49ers to a perfect 11-0 league record.
“I loved my recruiting visit to Logan and was very impressed with Utah State University,” said Butterfield. “I liked the coaching staff a lot and immediately got along with the other members of the team. Hopefully I can bring some toughness, shooting and rebounding to the team and add to the great chemistry they already have.”
During the 2011-12 season, Butterfield scored in double-figures 25 times to go along with 12 double-figure rebounding games as he finished the year with nine double-doubles. He also scored 20-plus points 10 times including a career-high 42 points against Merritt College.
In that game, he was 13 of 18 from the field, 7 of 10 from 3-point range and 9 for 10 at the free-throw line. He also had 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals.
As a freshman at Yuba CC, Butterfield averaged approximately 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds as he earned first-team all-conference honors. Butterfield prepped at Del Oro High School in Loomis, Calif., were he earned first-team all-state honors in basketball as both a junior and senior in the Sierra Foothill League. As a prep senior, Butterfield averaged nearly 20.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Butterfield also excelled in football at Del Oro HS as he had 96 catches for 1,616 yards and 14 touchdowns over his two-year varsity career with the Golden Eagles.
“Without question, Spencer is the toughest kid I have coached in my 20 years,” said Yuba Community College head coach Doug Cornelius. “He plays as hard as he can all the time and is easily the best rebounding guard I have ever coached. He can really shoot the ball and knows how to play the game. I have no doubt that Spencer will continue to excel at the Division I level.”
Doug Hoffman is the assistant athletic director for Utah State University Athletic Media Relations.
