Butler’s Willie Veasley Playing In Japan

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Former Butler player Willie Veasley signed a one-year contract to play for Niigata Albirex in the Japan BJ League.  The 6-3 forward reported to his professional team on August 22.

Veasley started 37 games for the 33-5 Bulldogs last season and helped Butler to the NCAA National Championship game.  He was the team’s fourth-leading scorer (9.8) and third-leading rebounder (4.3).  The Butler senior was named to the Horizon League All-Defensive Team and was chosen to Seth Davis’ 11th Annual All-Glue Team, recognizing five players who do everything to win.  He further was named to the 2010 Speedway Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team, after helping the Bulldogs to the tournament title.

A four-year letterwinner, Veasley played in 134 games in his four seasons at Butler and helped the Bulldogs to a school-record 118 victories.  He became the first Butler player to see action in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and he set a Butler record with 11 NCAA Tournament games played.

Veasley joins a number of former Butler players currently in the professional ranks, including Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Mike Green (Italy), Pete Campbell (Germany), Brandon Polk (Australia) and Thomas Jackson (Netherlands).