West Liberty junior swingman Bryce Butler, a Latrobe graduate, received national recognition Tuesday when he was named the Division II Conference Information Directors Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.
Butler, who has helped lead the No. 4 Hilltoppers to a 9-0 start, had 25 points — on 11-of-16 shooting, with four 3-pointers — and 10 rebounds in a 98-91 win over Charleston.
He followed with a 33-point game, including the winning layup, in a 91-89 win over No. 21 West Virginia State. Butler, who also grabbed six rebounds in the victory, made 15 of 27 shots, including the biggest basket of the game with five seconds remaining.
Butler leads the Mountain East Conference in scoring at 23.7 points per game. He is also second in field-goal percentage (61.7%) and fourth in rebounds (7.4).
He also was MEC Player of the Week for the second time this season.
