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Butler’s lone freshman Evan Haywood impresses: ‘Has a chance to be a heck of a player.’

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6 months ago

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Butler’s lone freshman Evan Haywood impresses: ‘Has a chance to be a heck of a player.’

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  • Haywood averaged averaged 19.8 points and 6.4 rebounds as a senior at Brebeuf Jesuit.

There are four newcomers on Butler’s 2024-25 roster, but only one freshman: Brebeuf Jesuit’s Evan Haywood.

Butler‘s veteran core includes Jahmyl Telfort (23 years old, 112 games) and Patrick McCaffery (24, 123 games), who have seen pretty much everything college basketball can throw at you. Haywood can lean into that experience as he adjusts to the college game.

“I’m just excited to learn from everybody,” Haywood said after a recent summer practice. “There’s so much experience, so much talent here. We’re all looking out for each other. Yeah, I’m the freshman, but Finley (Bizjack) helps me out a lot. He’ll walk me through plays.

“It was an adjustment my first week, but I feel like I’m kind of getting into a rhythm.”

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His new head coach agrees.

Despite the age gap between himself and some of his older teammates, Haywood’s play throughout the summer has shown ability well beyond his years.

“With him being a freshman, if you’ve watched him practice you wouldn’t even know that he was a freshman, and that’s a tribute to him,” Thad Matta said. “He’s been very aggressive. He’ll do some things where you’ll say, ‘He’s new to college basketball.’ But he’s very diligent. He wants to know everything that’s going on and that’s a sign of a guy that has a chance to be a heck of a player.”

Haywood’s maturity and adaptability is helping him find his way in Matta’s system. The 6-4 guard averaged 19.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 37.7% from the 3-point line (78-for-207) as a senior and knows his role is not going to that of a primary offensive option. Haywood said he’s learning how to make an impact without a high volume of touches. A wise mindset for a player accustomed to taking as many shots as he needed in high school.

“Just understanding where my new spots are,” Haywood said. “I knew my spots in high school for four years, but now I’m getting used to the different areas on the court… Just getting used to finding where I can get open and where I can make plays.”

Improved shot selection will make Haywood a more efficient offensive player. His work in the weight room will help him withstand the rigors of the Big East. Haywood said he played last season at about 200 to 205 pounds. The Carmel native said playing at that weight made him a little too heavy, so he worked with the Butler training staff to get down to 195, while adding on more muscle.

Follow IndyStar Butler Insider Akeem Glaspie on X at @THEAkeemGlaspie.

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