Butler head coach Ronald Nored has signed a pair of standouts as Lonnie Lyons and Tyson Chandler II will join the Bulldog men's basketball program beginning with the 2027-28 campaign.
 
J'Lon "Lonnie" Lyons has earned the distinction as one of the top guards in the Class of 2027. He is the highest-ranked recruit to sign with Butler out of high school in Bulldog program history.
 
He is from Clinton, Maryland and attends Clinton Grace Christian School while playing on the AAU circuit with Team Takeover. The 6-2 guard is ranked 37^th nationally by Rivals/On3, 43rd by ESPN, and 51^st by 247Sports. All outlets rank him as a four-star recruit.
 
"Lonnie has the ability to be highly impactful right away at Butler," said Nored. "He's everything you want in a lead guard on both ends of the court. Beyond the physical gifts, the talent and the skillset he already possesses, Lonnie embraces the leadership role that comes with being a point guard in the BIG EAST and the growth mindset needed to maximize his vast potential. We're excited to get Lonnie on campus and embedded within the Butler community because I know our fans are going to love getting to know him and watching him play."
 
Throughout 2026, Lyons has participated in several USA Basketball events, including the 2026 USA Men's Junior National Team minicamp in October in Colorado Springs, and the April minicamp in Indianapolis.
 
Lyons was named the 2026 Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Player of the Year following his junior season. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals, leading his team to the Maryland Private School State Tournament championship game. He was also named the Metro Private School Conference Co-Player of the Year.
 
With Team Takeover, Lyons averaged 12.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game, competing in 20 games during the summer 2026 Nike EYBL circuit.
 
Chandler is from Allen, Texas, just outside of Dallas. He plays for Allen High School and Southern Assault on the AAU circuit.
 
"Tyson's game comes with an incredibly high ceiling," said Nored. "He is 6-9 with the ability to knock down shots at a high level. As he fills into his frame, his physicality will continue to grow as well. Tyson has seen what it takes to be successful at the highest levels of basketball, and we're excited for him to bring that mindset and dedication with him to our program. He is a great addition to our program – both on the court and in the locker room."
 
The 6-9 forward is a consensus three-star recruit. His father played 19 NBA seasons, winning an NBA title in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks and being named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. 
 
Nored and the 2026-27 Bulldogs return to action Friday night, hosting Pittsburgh at Hinkle Fieldhouse.