Brian Butch has done and accomplished just about everything you can in the sport of basketball.
He was a standout at Appleton West High School and named the Wisconsin High School Associated Press player of the year twice (2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons) and named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Association for the 2002-2003 season.
In that same year, he was named a McDonald’s All-American.
He played for the 2007-08 Big Ten regular-season and tournament champion Badgers and played and coached in America and overseas.
He continues to be involved in the sport through his color commentary role with Matt LePay on Badger men’s basketball radio broadcasts and on The Big Ten television network.
Brian is also a husband and father of three children, and he finds time to travel across Wisconsin to host his “Sweat Equity” basketball camps for youngsters.
Seehafernews.com caught up with Butch at L.B. Clarke Middle in Two Rivers this week, where about 30 kids spent the afternoon learning from one of the best to ever lace up a pair of sneakers in Wisconsin. He tells us—
” Any way we can find a way to give back to the community through basketball is awesome.”
We asked Butch how he chose the camp’s name ‘Sweat Equity.”?
” It’s hard work to become a good athlete,” he said, adding—
“Ultimately, knowing how to play the game the right way is what matters. You’ve got to put a lot of sweat and time into accomplishing that, so I believe the title “sweat equity” fits.
Butch truly loves the game, but during our interview, he revealed the one thing he believes has taken a back seat — practice.
” We’re playing a lot more games than doing skill work. It’s one thing I’ll never deviate from. Give me a player who’s skilled over one who’s played over 100 games, and they’ll have a much better chance of succeeding as they get older. It’s the most important thing I look at.”
Which is why, according to the former AP high school player of the year, developing skills such as shooting and ball handling are vital to mold a player’s basketball IQ, the most important of which is footwork.
“The number one job as a basketball player is to create an advantage against your opponent, he emphasized.
“Too many kids think it’s to score the basketball. Not True. It’s to create an advantage, and with proper footwork, you can do that. “
The camp lasted about three hours, with many kids sticking around afterward to talk with Butch and, of course, get those coveted selfies. He’d leave for another camp in Stockbridge on Thursday night and has many more planned this summer. With so many things on his plate, including raising his lovely children with his wife, Megan, why does he burn the candles at both ends?
” That’s a simple answer. I absolutely love it.”
(Brian) Butch is also heavily involved in supporting The Neshotah Charitable Foundation, Inc., which raises funds for youth programs and families in need in our Lakeshore community. Go to neshotahfoundation.org for an application and more information.
