Butler's lone 2022 recruit Connor Turnbull sticks with Thad Matta, Bulldogs

INDIANAPOLIS – Connor Turnbull is sticking with the Butler Bulldogs.

The 6-10 center, who had been the lone player in Butler’s 2022 basketball signing class, announced Wednesday on social media he was re-committing to the program. He had reopened his recruitment after coach LaVall Jordan was fired and succeeded by Thad Matta.

On Turnbull's 'remarkable' evolution:'You’re going to see a monster coming out.'

More:Thad Matta adds Greg Oden, Jon Diebler to Butler support staff

Turnbull, of Fort Zumwalt North High School in O’Fallon, Mo., averaged 23.5 points and 12.7 rebounds a game. He shot .602 from the field, .385 on 3-pointers (30-of-78) and .811 on free throws.

Except for 6-9 Bryce Golden, who is transferring to Loyola-Chicago, the Bulldogs have been able to hold onto all the players with 2022-23 eligibility. They include Lithuanian freshman Simas Lukosius, who entered the transfer portal and later withdrew.

From Jordan’s staff, Matta retained assistant coach David Ragland, who was influential in recruitment of Lukosius and Turnbull.

So far, Butler has 10 players for next season, including Ali Ali, a 6-8 transfer out of East Noble High School. Ali, an All-Mid-American Conference second-team selection, led Akron’s NCAA tourney team in points per game (13.9), assists (2.6) and 3-point percentage (.407).

That leaves three scholarships available.

Butler is getting a weekend visit from Georgia State’s 6-10 Jalen Thomas, who averaged 8.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over two seasons. He had 12 points and nine rebounds in an NCAA tournament game against top-ranked Gonzaga.

Butler had visits last weekend from 6-11 Manny Bates of North Carolina State and former Indiana University point guard Rob Phinisee, who chose Cincinnati over the Bulldogs on Wednesday.

Contact IndyStar reporter David Woods at david.woods@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.