INDIANAPOLIS – Head Coach Kurt Godlevske is pleased to announce the addition of Naira Caceres to the Butler women's basketball program. Caceres will transfer to Butler after spending her freshman season at Maine playing for the Black Bears. She will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
 
Caceres is a 6-0 forward from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain). She attended C.B. Islas Canarias High School and enrolled at Maine as a Blue Star Europe five-star recruit.
 
"I'm thrilled to welcome Naira to the Bulldog family," Head Coach Kurt Godlevske stated. "Naira embodies The Butler Way. I'm not sure I've met as talented of a young lady who is so humble and appreciative."
 
Caceres played in 34 games as a Maine Black Bear, making eight starts as a true freshman. She averaged 19.4 minutes of playing time per contest and scored a season-high 11 points in a home game vs. Stony Brook. Caceres averaged 3.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game at Maine. Her season-high rebound total was recorded against Harvard when she pulled down 10 boards against the Crimson.
 
Before attending Maine, Caceres helped her club team win three Spanish Championships (13-14, 14-15, 15-16). She was also a member of Spain's bronze medal winning FIBA 3x3 team at the World Championships.
 
Caceres averaged 14.0 points and 12.0 rebounds for her club team during her senior year. Her averages when playing for the U18 National team included 7.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. Caceres helped guide Spain to a U18 gold medal and a runner-up finish in the U17 World Championships.
 
"Naira has the ability to create matchup issues," Godlevske added. "She can post up smaller defenders, drive past slower defenders and she also has deep range. I couldn't be happier that she chose to join our Bulldog family!"
 
Caceres was tabbed "Max Rebounder of Spain" for three-straight seasons from 2013-16. She was a two-time MVP of the Spanish Championships and also a member of the All-5 Team of the U18 European Championships.
 
Top individual performances from Caceres include a 35 point, 19 rebound performance against EM Pielagos during the 2013-14 season and a 32 point, 13 rebound game vs. Adareva in 2015-16. She flirted with a triple-double in 2015-16 when playing against Plasencia Montesolar when she went off for 28 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.
 
"I chose Butler because I really love their basketball style and the family atmosphere between the coaches and the players," Caceres stated. "The talent level of the BIG EAST Conference is very high and competing against good teams will help me to grow as a player. Academically, Butler University is a great place to continue my business studies. I can't wait to be part of the Bulldog family!"