Butler's busy offseason under way as top scorer Jayden Taylor is 1 of 4 in transfer portal
In what could be considered the first surprising move this offseason, Butler sophomore guard Jayden Taylor has entered the transfer portal.
Monday was the first day underclassmen could officially enter the transfer portal, and Butler had four underclassmen put their name in. Taylor joins Myles Tate, Myles Wilmoth and Pierce Thomas as Bulldogs to enter the transfer portal. All four players were recruited to Butler by former coach LaVall Jordan.
Tate, Wilmoth and Thomas played reserve roles under coach Thad Matta. Taylor is the first starter to leave the program this offseason. Taylor started 44 of 65 games during his Butler career. The Perry Meridian grad and Indianapolis native started the first 13 games this season, came off the bench for 10 and started the final nine.
What went wrong? Breaking down Butler's rough season and looking ahead to 2023-24
The 6-4 shooter led the Dawgs in points per game averaging 12.9. Taylor led the Dawgs in made free throws (97) and finished second on the team with 45 3-pointers. Taylor appeared headed toward a breakout season after a strong showing during the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Taylor averaged 18.6 points per game against Tennessee, BYU and NC State in The Bahamas.
Taylor won Big East player of the week in early February, averaging 19.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in wins over St. John's and No. 15 Xavier. Sources tell IndyStar Taylor is looking for a winning program with a chance to make the NCAA tournament. Butler finished the season 14-18 and ninth in the Big East.
With Taylor and Wilmoth gone Butler has three open scholarships to fill for the 2023 season.
Ex-Brownsburg star Pierce Thomas enters transfer portal
Thomas, a former Indiana All-Star, starred at Brownsburg on the court and won a track and field state championship in the long jump as a senior. Thomas is electric in transition, capable of executing highlight-reel dunks with regularity. His best dunk was a reverse slam during nonconference play against The Citadel.
The high-level athleticism did not translate to consistent playing time under returning head coach Thad Matta. Thomas averaged 13.6 minutes per game off the bench. He played in 23 of 32 games, missing time to due to injury and DNPs.
Myles Tate's up-and-down Butler career ends in transfer portal
Tate started 18 games as a freshman, but a knee injury suffered during his final game of the season cost him most of his sophomore season. Tate played sparingly under returning coach Thad Matta this season. The South Carolina native averaged 2.5 points per game in 7.7 minutes per game. Tate averaged 25 minutes per game as a freshman.
Tate expressed frustration with the ups and downs he faced during his Butler career to the IndyStar in February.
"I can't really put into words the frustration that I've been through," Tate said. "Through injuries and all that. But it all works out at the end because you just stay down, stay patient and just stay ready. It's all easier because you already got the mindset to do it."
Reserve forward Myles Wilmoth enters transfer portal
Wilmoth played in 13 games this season averaging 5.6 minutes per game. The 6-9 forward missed significant time with an arm injury. Wilmoth averaged 14.8 minutes off the bench as a freshman, but his role shrank each of the next two seasons.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler basketball: Jayden Taylor, Myles WIlmoth enter transfer portal
