Ali Ali enters transfer portal after one season with Butler basketball
Butler basketball's ever-changing offseason remains in high gear as senior Ali Ali entered the transfer portal Tuesday.
Ali along with D.J. Hughes, Jalen Thomas and Connor Turnbull were the only players expected to return who played under coach Thad Matta last season. Now the Bulldogs have two open scholarships to fill.
Ali is the first player recruited to Butler under Matta to transfer. Eric Hunter Jr. graduated and Manny Bates entered his name into the NBA draft.
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Ali, an East Noble grad, came to Butler after playing for three seasons at Akron. Ali led the Zips in scoring as a junior, earning All-Mid-American Conference second-team honors.
A concussion suffered during the preseason cost Ali all 11 of Butler's nonconference games. He debuted against UConn on Dec. 17 and made his first start against St. John's Jan. 13. Ali reached double figures for the first time scoring 10 points against the Red Storm. He had his Butler-high 11 points against Georgetown in the Dawgs' home finale. Ali followed that performance by scoring 15 points the following game against DePaul.
Ali started slowly but appeared primed for a strong second season with the Bulldogs. Losing the versatile guard/forward brings Matta back to the drawing board. With incoming commits Jahmyl Telfort, Pierre Brooks and Augusto Cassia, Butler appeared set at the forward position. Now the Dawgs could look at guards, wings or both to fill the final two spots on the roster.
Former North Carolina forward Puff Johnson is scheduled to visit Butler on Wednesday. Johnson is a former four-star recruit and would fill the void vacated by Ali.
Follow IndyStar Butler Insider Akeem Glaspie on Twitter at @THEAkeemGlaspie.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler Bulldogs basketball: Ali Ali enters transfer portal
