HoosierAuthorityâ??s
Boys Basketball Coordinator Chris May caught up with Edgewood junior forward
Garrett Butcher on February 20, 2007 after the Mustangsâ?? 82-35 win over
Cascade. Butcher, listed by the IHSAA as
the 10th leading scorer in the state this season, is leading the way
for the undefeated Mustangs. Here is
their conversation:
Chris May: Itâ??s a
perfect season so far, youâ??re the only undefeated team in the state, whatâ??s
that like?
Garrett Butcher: Right now, Iâ??m not even thinking about it that
much. Coach (Jay Brown) the last two
years has really put a lot of pressure on us to enjoy the season after the
season, but right now its pretty cool, Iâ??m not going to lie. Its something Iâ??ve always dreamed about since
I was a little kid â??? and so have the rest of the guys on the team â??? so from
that viewpoint its really cool. Itâ??s
something that we can say â??Weâ??re the only team in the state that is doing that
right nowâ?? and that puts us above a lot of teams.
CM: Is there one
win that has been more special or most memorable this year?
GB: Bloomington South. Theyâ??re a bigger school and itâ??s a rival and
the last two years we felt like we could play with them, but just havenâ??t got
it done and this year we finally got over the hump, I guess you could say.
CM: What have the
fan support and the crowds been like at your games?
GB: Theyâ??re incredible. I mean our student section, theyâ??re
crazy. I think we have the best student
section out of anybody weâ??ve played, even on the road weâ??ve had a better
student section. We usually have really
good fans that come out.
CM: When you talk
about yourself as a player, how would you describe your game?
GB:
Versatile. I think I can play
inside and out, if Iâ??ve got smaller guys on me I can go inside and if Iâ??ve got
somebody bigger, I can take them outside.
I think thatâ??s the best part of my game.
CM: It looks like
you really have some passing skills, is that something you pride yourself on
and try to display?
GB:
Yeah, everybody expects me to score, I guess, but passing gets
everybody else involved. Scoring helps
your team win, but getting everybody involved makes us undefeated I guess you
could say.
CM: What makes this team such a good team?
GB:
Chemistry. We have the best
chemistry of the last two years Iâ??ve played here, this is the best year by far,
weâ??ve all gotten along. Tom and I have
been playing basketball together since second grade and the rest of the guys
weâ??ve been playing baseball with since seventh and eight grade, so weâ??ve known
each other forever and its just great chemistry, weâ??re all best friends.
CM: Weâ??re getting ready for sectional play,
what are the teamâ??s goals and how far can you guys make it?
GB:
Our goal first is to win sectionals.
Last year we went into it as favorites and got upset so it was really
devastating to us because we thought we could win it, it was just
unfortunate. This year I think we can
win it and I think we can go far. Once
we get past sectionals, our regional is pretty tough.
CM: You donâ??t
want to say how far?
GB:
Nah, hopefully a state championship, but who knows.
CM: What can you or will you share about your
recruiting situation? Have coaches been
at most of your games?
GB:
Kent State, Butler, and Indiana were here tonight, but yeah, a lot
of the time theyâ??ve been here this year.
Every major basketball program in Indiana, besides Notre Dame, has been
to a game. Everybody has been here it
seems like. Purdue. Texas Tech has been calling, Marquette has
been to a couple of practices, so itâ??s pretty cool.
CM: What would you think about playing for
Coach Knight?
GB:
Everyone asks that! It would
be great, I think. I mean it couldnâ??t
get any better, growing up here in Ellettsville with someone Iâ??ve grown up
watching coach, so I think it would be awesome.
Some people have asked if it would be hard to deal with. Iâ??m sure it would, but what you get out of it
is just as good as what you put in.
CM: How do you handle this recruiting stuff
as a junior? Are you looking to get this
stuff out of your way soon or prolong this into your senior year?
GB:
Iâ??ll probably get it out of the way before my senior year, just so I
can relax a little bit my senior year and just go out and have a little bit
more fun with it and not have to worry about making a decision and everything
like that, just get it out of the way.
CM: So what do you do when youâ??re not on the
basketball court, what are your hobbies?
GB:
Hang out with friends.
CM: Are you a video game guy?
GB:
If itâ??s a good video game, Iâ??ll get real into it.
CM: Sports or more of the fighting games?
GB:
College football is the best.
CM: Whoâ??s your team?
GB:
I donâ??t really have one.
CM: What kind of music do you listen to?
GB:
Everything. Rap, country,
hip-hop, everything.
CM: Who is the best rapper?
GB:
Tupac. Heâ??s still the best.
CM:
Do you have any favorite subjects?
GB:
Probably history.
CM:
What would you want to major in?
GB:
Iâ??m not sure right now.
Architecture is looking pretty good, or education.
Edgewood coach Jay Brown on Butcher:
â??Heâ??s the best. I donâ??t even think Iâ??m
going out on a limb by saying heâ??s the best player on our schedule and heâ??s the
best player Iâ??ve seen this year. Heâ??s
able to score inside, he handles the ball, he shoots jump shots, he gets
rebounds, he makes his free throws, heâ??s really become a complete player. When you talk about Garrett his basketball
abilities are really only half of the package.
Heâ??s a wonderful, wonderful kid and you just couldnâ??t draw one up any
better.â?
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