Latrobe duo could draw attention during NCAA ‘live periods’

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, July 13, 2018 | 3:15 PM

One of three mid-summer NCAA Division I basketball “live periods” began Wednesday, which means top college coaches from across the country will fill gymnasiums for a week to watch high-school prospects play on the AAU circuit.

During these periods, coaches can evaluate players from 5 p.m. Wednesday until 5 p.m. the following Sunday. The other live periods are July 18-22, and July 25-29.

A pair of those potential recruits play for the same travel and high school teams and could see an increase in interest in the coming weeks.

Reed Fenton and Bryce Butler, Latrobe’s high-scoring duo, are playing for the PK Flash in a series of tournaments along the East Coast.

The Elevate Hoops Icebreaker I event wraps up Friday in Manalapan, N.J. before a Hoop Group tournament in Atlantic City, the Big Apple Showcase in New York, the Summer Jamfest at Spooky Nook (Pa.), and the Louisville Jamfest.

“A lot of schools that talked to me in June were all saying they’d come and take a hard look at these guys in July,” Latrobe coach Brad Wetzel said of Fenton and Butler. “Both guys are having good summers. I think we’ll see some (schools) opening up some books and making some offers in the next three weeks, and I think there will be multiple ones for each of the boys.

“They’ll be able to choose between some great universities.”

Fenton and Butler, who both averaged over 20 points last season and will be seniors in the fall, led the PK Flash 17-under team to the Platinum championship at the Icebreaker tournament.

Fenton already has offers from Navy and Drake, along with interest from a number of Ivy League schools. Butler also has Ivy and Patriot League schools taking a closer look.

Fenton and Butler have played in the last two USA Basketball 3-on-3 competitions in Colorado.

“We’re both hoping that it takes a big jump,” Fenton said of recruiting. “And with the work we’ve put in, I’m confident it will.”

Both players have pedigree. Fenton’s father, Neal, played at Navy and Lehigh. His uncles, Greg and Keith, played at Bethany and Bucknell, respectively.

Butler’s father, Eric, played at Eastern Kentucky and Robert Morris. His brother, Austin, was a star at Latrobe and is now playing at Holy Cross.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.