A four-star recruit from San Anselmo, California, Butler becomes the first player from Washington’s 2024-25 roster to announce his departure—but he’s unlikely to be the last.
The overhaul of the Washington men’s team officially kicked off on Friday afternoon when freshman guard reportedly decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
He had initially committed to Illinois in December 2023 during his senior season at The Branson School in Ross, California. However, after Washington hired coach Danny Sprinkle, he switched his commitment to the Huskies.
“From the first conversation I had with Coach Sprinkle, I knew right away he was the type of coach I wanted to play for,” Butler told 247Sports last April. “He has a winning mentality, and that’s my top priority. He understands my strengths and values my ability to bring versatility, shooting, and playmaking as a big guard.”
At 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, Butler had difficulty carving out a significant role in Washington’s crowded backcourt rotation.
In his freshman season, he played in 18 games, averaging 1.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 10.6 minutes per game. Washington finished with a 13-18 overall record and went just 4-16 in Big Ten play.
Jase Butler showed defensive potential and had some bright moments in nonconference play, including a season-high eight-point outing in a 63-53 loss to Nevada on Nov. 9.
However, injuries and inconsistent playing time hindered his freshman campaign. He suffered a concussion in January, causing him to miss two games, and failed to score in his final eight appearances while seeing limited minutes.
Butler subtly acknowledged his departure by reposting a report from 247Sports’ Travis Branham on his X account, which cited his agent, Drake U’u.
The NCAA transfer portal officially opens on March 24.
Washington is also set to lose seniors Great Osobor, DJ Davis, Luis Kortright, and Tyree Ihenacho. Additionally, Franck Kepnang and Wilhelm Breidenbach participated in Senior Day activities but could apply for an NCAA waiver to return.
The futures of several other players, including Vazoumana Diallo, Mekhi Mason, Tyler Harris, Christian King, KC Ibekwe, Chris Conway, and Dominique Diomande, remain uncertain.
Despite the roster turnover, Washington is bringing in a highly regarded recruiting class, ranked second in the Big Ten. It includes McDonald’s All-American Niko Bundalo, four-star guards JJ Mandaquit and Courtland Muldrew, and junior-college transfer forward Mady Traore.
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