Former West Liberty University All-American Bryce Butler tips off his first season as an assistant coach at his alma mater. One of the most decorated Hilltoppers in recent history, Butler came aboard over the summer when former assistant Connor Harr left to accept the position of player development/video coordinator with the Orlando Magic NBA G-League team in Osceola, Fla.
    Butler needed no introduction to Hilltopper fans. A 2-time NCAA Division II All-American and Atlantic Region Player of the Year, the 6-5 wing was an unstoppable force during the 2022-23 season as the Black and Gold went 33-4 and advanced to the NCAA D2 national championship game. He scored double- figures in all 37 games and went for 20 or more points 26 times. At his best when the spotlight shone brightest, Butler had a 30-point night in the Atlantic Region final win over No. 3-ranked Indiana (Pa.) and poured in a game-high 32 points in a hard-fought setback against unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Nova Southeastern in the national championship game.
    Along with leading the nation with 829 points and a school-record 332 field goals, he ranked 19th nationally with 280 rebounds, 20th in field goal percentage (59.2%), 30th with 10 double-doubles and 39th with 134 assists. Butler finished his four seasons at WLU ranked 10th among the school's all-time scoring leaders with 1,913 points while leading the Hilltoppers to a sparkling 107-16 (.870) record.
 A first-team All-American and first-team Academic All-American, Butler repeated as the MEC and Atlantic Region Player of the Year. He was also voted Most Valuable Player in the MEC Tournament after helping the Hilltoppers become the first MEC team to win back-to-back tourney titles. He was MVP of the Atlantic Region Tournament, as well, as West Liberty breezed to its seventh regional crown with three straight double-digit wins.
After graduating from WLU, Butler played one season at NCAA Division I College of Charleston (S.C.) as a graduate transfer where he helped lead the Cougars to a Coastal Athletic Association championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Butler earned one CAA Player of the Week honor during the season and was selected as the 2024 CAA Sixth Man of the Year in post-season voting by the league coaches.
    The Hilltoppers newest assistant also has international experience. Prior to his senior year at West Liberty, Bryce and his brother, Austin, played on the Team USA U-23 squad that won the 2022 FIBA Nations League Americas 3x3 championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He also competed for Team USA in this summer 2024 FIBA 3x3 Nations League Americas Conference in Mexico City.
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