Butler G Chrishawn Hopkins’ dismissal shocks Bulldog community
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
When news of Chrishawn Hopkins’ dismissal broke around dinner time Wednesday evening, Butler players past and present took to Twitter with swift reaction.
Former forward Garrett Butcher tweeted, Very unfortunate news but mistakes don’t define a person. #unbelievable.
Joel Cornette, a 2004 graduate and one of the better big men in school history, posted, Whenever I see a kid dismissed I first hope it isn’t a criminal issue and then immediately feel terrible for his teammates.
Starting small forward Roosevelt Jones asked, Is this real.
And departed co-captain Ronald Nored simply tweeted, unbelievable.
If a few of those comments seemed to betray shock, the men could be forgiven. For a program still basking in the glow of two appearances in the national championship game, this type of news was an unwelcome departure from the mantras of the Butler Way.
Just three weeks into fall classes, and two months from the season’s opening tip, a talented shooting guard, one supposed to be hitting the prime of his career as a rising junior, was forced to turn in his uniform.
Butler coach Brad Stevens, who spoke only through a university release, did not address his reasons for giving Hopkins the boot.
The truth is, they don’t matter.
At the core of the story, a baby-faced hometown guy, with fuzz on his head and chin, leaves his 9.1 points per game behind, and takes with him what must only be the regret of a lost opportunity.
On the court, Hopkins had his share of shortcomings. With a wiry, 6-foot-1 frame, he shot a dismal 37 percent from the field last season. His 70 turnovers frustrated the coaching staff: Only 11 players in the Horizon League had more.
But the best of Hopkins offered a skill set other guards could only dream of. On New Year’s Eve, Hopkins came off the bench to add 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals in a scintillating all- around performance that led Butler to a 54-50 victory over Milwaukee.
Hopkins was good enough to draw audible groans and gasps from a packed house at Assembly Hall, where he scored 11 points in a five-minute stretch in November.
He’s fast with the ball, Indiana coach Tom Crean remarked to the media afterward.
The 2012-13 Bulldogs now embark on their inaugural season in the rough Atlantic 10 minus an expected key contributor. Hopkins was likely no better than their third-best guard, and may not have even been a starter ahead of Rotnei Clarke and freshman stud Kellen Dunham, but the depth he provided was invaluable.
If there’s any worry with the loss of Hopkins, above all else, it’s Butler’s bench. Chase Stigall’s specialty is 3-point shooting, but he hit just 28.4 percent from long range last season. Jackson Aldridge shows the promise of being a solid backup point guard, but inconsistency as a freshman caused him to fall out of favor with Stevens. Whether newbies Chris Harrison-Docks and Devontae Morgan are ready for prime time remains to be seen. Kameron Woods is more than fine as a reserve big man, but when Stevens absolutely needs points off the pine, to whom can he turn?
Hopkins’ loss is felt in other places, too. Clarke’s going to be great; that much is a given. But now Dunham, the stud recruit from Pendleton Heights, Ind., needs to be all he’s cracked up to be for Butler to have any shot at an A-10 title or bid to the NCAA tournament.
Butler may not be reeling from yesterday’s news as much as Hopkins, a 21-year-old Hoosier with an uneasy upbringing and now-uncertain future.
But this much is known: The upcoming season hinges on four players, and four players only. If Clarke, Dunham, Khyle Marshall and Andrew Smith deliver, Butler can play deep into March. Should that foursome falter, the Bulldogs will spend another year in no-man’s land, and no amount of Chrishawn Hopkins crossovers would alter that destiny.
Huge loss for Butler, but the kid did seem like a knucklehead. Wasn’t his first incident. I’m sure he will wind up at Detroit and get back on his feet just fine.