There is good, and then there is what James Butler from Sachem North has been able to accomplish. This past basketball season, Butler eclipsed over 1,000 career points for his team, which is a milestone that he was proud of.
“I just worked really hard in the offseason, and improved my game in all areas,” Butler said in regards to his play. “I got a lot faster and stronger and was able to finish more plays with my athletic ability as opposed to last year.”
In his junior season Butler averaged 13.4 points per game, and played the shooting guard position for his team. In his senior season Butler’s game matured, he was moved to the point guard spot and doubled his scoring average to become the second leading scorer per game on Long Island at 28.1 points per outing. “The scoring was good but I would much rather score less points and win the game, then score 40 points and lose. During the season I was doing everything that I could to push us into the playoffs and improve our standing,” Butler said.
North’s basketball team finished 7-12 on the year and were not able to qualify for the playoffs, but in Butler’s final game of his career, he experienced his best moment. On a three-point shot from 27- feet out from the basket, Butler swished home the shot to give him 42 points on the game, and his 1,000 point career total. “That was the most memorable moment for me, to experience that feeling with all the guys and coaches I had been playing with over the course of my basketball career. That was a big milestone for me in my playing career and something I will always have with me to share with my teammates.”
In the fall Butler committed to playing on the Division 1 lacrosse team at LIU, a decision that he was completely ready for. “ Playing for a Division-I school, and receiving the benefits from the program was just something that I could not pass up,” Butler said. Butler received a scholarship to play for LIU based on not only his athletics, but his academics in the classroom as well.
Butler graduated from high school with a weighed 97- average in his last marking period, and was used to receiving good grades in high school.
“School came easy to me, ever since I was young, I never had to study much I just knew what I had to do,” Butler said. “ My parents definitely were there to push me and let me know my grades were important. If there was ever a pojnt my grades slipped, I was able to quickly rebound and get them back where they needed to be.” Butler’s parents were staples in his life, and were his role models growing up. They contributed heavily in instilling, the hard work ethic that was needed to be a top athlete and maintain excellent grades in the classroom into their son.
Among other role models for Butler were his teammates and coaches that he now leaves behind. “ My teammates and coaches were always there to inspire me and pick me up when I needed it,” Butler said. “ There were games that they carried me and I needed their support if I didn’t have it a particular night, as well as nights when they did not have it, and [they] needed extra effort from me.”
One of those night would come at the second- to-last game of the season in which Butler scored 40 of his teams total 50 points, in a 59-50 loss against Commack high school, which eliminated them from playoff contention. In this game Butler’s 40 points pulled him closer to the 1,000 career milestone, and set the stage for his encore performance in the final game of his high school career. “My team needed an extra spark in that game so I tried to give it to them,” Butler said.
Even though Butler will be leaving his high school team, he knows that he has left an lasting imprint on everyone that he interacted with during his time at Sachem North. He served as a mentor, leader, and role model moving forward to the younger players on the team. “My work ethic and desire to do whatever it takes to win games was something that they will learn from me,” Butler said with regards to what his impact will be. “Showing up day in and day out, and putting in the work is something that I feel would rub off best to the other guys.”
Butler now embarks on a journey to the next important stage of his life—college. As mentioned, he already committed to the lacrosse program at LIU with a letter of intent in November. When asked what his goals were “ I want to be able to start my senior year for the team and get in the rotation quickly,” Butler said. “ Long term, I want to graduate college and get into sports-management from the business side of things.” Butler plans to major in Sports Management in college and will begin his next chapter this upcoming fall.
