Butler Beat Writer
The recruiting period opened up Monday for all college basketball teams once again after a long month of quietness. This period of recruiting will run from 9th to the 30th of September.
Right out of the gate, the Butler Bulldogs have made some noise with visiting some of their top 2015 targets.
The 'Dawgs came out swinging with visiting three recruits that they really have spent the most time. Butler visited -- or is scheduled to visit -- K.J. Walton (2015 PG of Brownsburg, IN; visited at open gym on Monday), Bronson Kessinger (2015 F of Corydon, IN; visited at open gym on Monday) and Aaron Jordan (2015 SG of Plainfield, IL; visited at open gym Monday).
As Walton told me in an interview at the Adidas Invitational this summer, he really enjoys Butler and their coaching staff.
Walton said he texts Butler head coach Brandon Miller daily, and he considers it his closest relationship with any coach. He also said that he likes the academic side of Butler, their winning ways and history, coach Miller and proximity to his home in Brownsburg.
At that time, Walton thought an offer was coming soon. Unfortunately, the offer has not come yet for Walton, but it should be coming very soon for the up-tempo, scoring point guard. With Butler's presence at Brownsburg today to watch Walton, alongside Xavier, expect an offer coming his way sometime this month.
Kessinger, who is an underrated forward down in southern Indiana, really has caught the eye of Butler's coaching staff over the summer. As Kessinger told me in August, Butler assistant Terry Johnson has kept in constant contact with him and his AAU coach.
The 6-foot-7 forward has seen many mid-majors offer him. Indiana State visited him at school on Monday before his open gym took place Monday night. Kessinger has offers from the just-aforementioned Sycamores, IUPUI, IPFW, Evansville and Keenesaw State.
Butler by far would be the biggest offer for the big man, but it could be worth it for the 'Dawgs. Kessinger is an athletic forward who can jump out of the gym. There's also a player with a thin frame and has hops like him, which is Kameron Woods. That is the Butler comparison for Kessinger right now as a project.
The Bulldogs continue to stay in contact with Kessinger, so they are spending valuable time on him. Expect some type of news on the Butler-Kessinger front sometime soon.
The final prospect Butler checked-in on is Aaron Jordan of Plainfield, IL. Butler is scheduled to see Jordan this week at his open gym. Xavier, Creighton, DePaul, Illinois State, Tulsa, Illinois, Vanderbilt and San Jose State are all scheduled to see Jordan as well sometime this week.
Jordan has grown very close with Wisconsin and their coaching staff, per 247Sports. Indiana has also checked in on him as well. Butler offered Jordan on an unofficial visit on August 1, when Kessinger also visited.
If the 'Dawgs were to land Jordan, Kessinger or Walton, it would be a nice foundation to set for that recruiting class. Compared to the 2014 class, which is on pace to be historically bad, 2015 has to be a big hit for Butler.
Check back in to Bulldog Bites as soon as you hear any other recruiting updates during this period. We have you covered.
