VITALS: 6-9, 263, Coastal Christian Academy (VA) OVERVIEW: Butler has spent time at three different high schools in his career. The Mississippi native was named the best player in the state in 2002 and 2003, making the 2003 McDonald's All-American team. Butler, who committed to Tennessee, spent this past school year at a pair of prep schools getting ready for this draft. Butler developed his national reputation playing for the Alabama Lasers AAU team. The 19-year-old has excellent hands and a great low-post presence. He still needs work on conditioning and adding to his repertoire. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Butler is one of the fastest-rising big men in the draft. Nearly every NBA official was impressed with him at Chicago, and he secured a spot for himself in the second round as a result. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Jayson Williams COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Malcolm Mackey ROLE PROJECTION: Future key reserve POSITIVES: Butler has a body made for the NBA. Not only did he check in at 263 pounds at Chicago, but his frame is toned and muscular. Unlike most players his size, Butler has excellent agility. He never plays outside of his limitations and sticks to the stuff that you want your big man to do - rebound, block shots and score garbage buckets. SHORTCOMINGS: At 6-8 without shoes, one has to wonder if Butler is tall enough to play the pivot in the NBA. He lacks the mid-range or post game that you want out of your power forward, so he might be a downgrade at that position. Butler is also raw. He never played at a level of basketball any higher than prep school. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "Everybody's looking for size. Youth is on his side. He really looks like a nice young kid that has a good body. Obviously he needs time to play - where he goes in the draft or what his position will be (on the court) will determine how much playing time he gets, if any, on a NBA roster. But he's got size, can run and certainly when your looking at young players, he looks like a guy with potential who can develop and turn into a nice player." - Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris
