PENDLETON, Ind. —
Kellen Dunham didn’t need to wait until the fall — he knew exactly what he wanted in a college basketball program.
That’s because Dunham, who committed to Butler on July 5, knew he is a perfect fit for the Bulldogs’ system and the Bulldogs’ system is a perfect fit for him.
After saying he would take his time and look closely at every school when Butler offered him a scholarship June 29, Dunham, as teenagers often do, changed his mind.
He and his family took a trip to their lake cottage in Warsaw shortly after the Butler offer came in, and Dunham spent time weighing the pros and cons with his parents. He also considered offers from Ball State and Wright State.
“We really sat down and talked about it for a while,” said Dunham, a 6-foot-4 guard who averaged 17.2 points per game during his sophomore season. “We were trying to figure out reasons I wouldn’t go (to Butler), and we couldn’t find one. We thought it would be the perfect situation.”
Dunham, the first Butler commit for the 2012 class, called head coach Brad Stevens to inform him of his decision early last week.
“He said he wanted to fight some battles with me during our next couple of years together,” Dunham said. “He was very excited.”
Dunham first emerged on the recruiting scene this summer because of his play in AAU tournaments and games with his Pendleton Heights summer team. He had no offers at the beginning of June, but Wright State and Ball State quickly became interested and offered scholarships. Stevens and Butler recognized Dunham’s talent shortly thereafter.
“I am really happy for him,” said PH coach Brian Hahn. “He has worked really hard to get to this point. I think it’s a perfect situation for him, a great school and, obviously, a program that is on the rise. I’m just really happy for him and his family.”
When he joins the Bulldogs’ roster, Dunham will be one of two players recruited out of the Hoosier Heritage Conference, joining Yorktown’s Emerson Kampen — a redshirt during the 2009-10 Final Four season. Dunham is hopeful that won’t happen to him.
Current guards Shelvin Mack, Ronald Nored and Zach Hahn will be gone by the time Dunham puts on a Butler uniform for the first time, giving him a better chance to play as a freshman.
“I hope I can make an impact right away,” he said. “If that happens, though, I will welcome the redshirt. But I am definitely going to work on my game so I can step in and make an immediate impact.”
In the week since making his decision, Dunham has spent time studying Butler basketball history in an attempt to learn as much about the program as he can before stepping foot on campus.
“I’ve been talking to a lot of people, and they keep telling me how prestigious the school is,” he said. “I’m getting my homework done.”
Dunham also was being recruited by Indiana, Xavier, Michigan and Wisconsin.
College Sports
Related Photos
-
Pendleton Heights junior Kellen Dunham has given a verbal commitment to join Butler's basketball program in 2012. THB file photo
Discussion
Dunham agrees to attend Butler
PH forward gives verbal commitment to Bulldogs
- College Sports
-
-
No. 23 Hoosiers hurry past Illinois 84-71
Illinois played like a desperate team Thursday night. That didn’t matter to Indiana. Cody Zeller scored 22 points and Victor Oladipo and Christian Watford each had 18, igniting No. 23 Indiana’s late charge to get past the Fighting Illini 84-71.
-
Boilers honor Lewis at halftime against IU
Purdue basketball fans took time out Saturday in the middle of a heated rivalry game with Indiana to honor Anderson High School graduate Troy Lewis, whose No. 23 jersey hangs from the rafters at Mackey Arena.
-
Ravens down Bluffton, pick up win No. 100 for Slyder
The Anderson University men’s basketball team nearly blew a 15-point second-half lead, but hung on to defeat Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Bluffton University 70-67 on Saturday at Founders Hall in Bluffton, Ohio.
-
Indiana falls at Michigan
Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 3-pointer with 2:58 remaining helped the 23rd-ranked Wolverines hold off No. 20 Indiana 68-56 on Wednesday night.
-
Anderson picks pair from Rose-Hulman
The Anderson University men’s basketball team defeated Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Rose-Hulman 60-49 on Wednesday night at Hulbert Arena in Terre Haute.
-
Hoosiers hammer Hawkeyes
Freshman Cody Zeller scored a season-high 26 points to help No. 16 Indiana defeat Iowa 103-89 on Sunday night.
-
Hummel, Purdue tip Northwestern 58-56
Robbie Hummel hit a baseline jumper with 12 seconds to play as Purdue claimed a 58-56 victory over Northwestern on Saturday.
-
No. 25 Wisconsin beats No. 16 Indiana 57-50
Ben Brust scored 13 points and No. 25 Wisconsin continued its recent rebound in the Big Ten, beating No. 16 Indiana 57-50 on Thursday night.
-
Prahalis, Hill lead No. 9 Ohio State past Indiana
Samantha Prahalis had 18 points and nine assists to help No. 9 Ohio State beat Indiana 73-55 Thursday night.
-
AU men snap streak with 82-72 win
The Anderson University men’s basketball team defeated Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Defiance College 82-72 on Wednesday night at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.
- More College Sports Headlines
-
