Butler's late-offseason addition likely won't play this season. Here's why

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Butler basketball team's frontcourt depth is allowing it to take things slow with late-offseason addition Kevin Ndzie.

Butler coach Thad Matta said the plan is for Ndzie, a former professional player in Italy by way of Cameroon, to redshirt this season unless injuries force the 7-foot-1, 240-pound center into action.

Ndzie, 22, joined the team in September, becoming the Bulldogs' 15th player. He suffered an injury ahead of the team's exhibition loss to Notre Dame and has not appeared in a game this season. Ndzie came to Butler as a junior. By redshirting, he'll preserve his two years of remaining eligibility.

Injuries have hit Butler's perimeter players, but its big men have been healthy so far.

Starting point guard Jalen Jackson is out for the season with an ankle injury. The grad transfer had surgery to repair the ankle Dec. 23 and is expected to be ready for the 2026-27 season. Freshman Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor missed the team's first seven games of the season with an ankle injury and has since returned. Redshirt sophomore Jamie Kaiser Jr. sat out the game against NJIT on Dec. 22, also with an ankle injury.

Kaiser's injury is not expected to be long term and the Maryland transfer practiced Sunday ahead of the Dawgs' road game against Creighton on Tuesday. Freshman Jack McCaffery is working his way back after missing the team's last four games due to emergency dental surgery.

Starting center Drayton Jones and backup Yohan Traore have played in all 13 games this season. Jones is averaging 7.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting a team-high 60.3% from the field. Jones, a former South Carolina State center, is third on the team with a 76.9% free throw percentage. Traore is averaging 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Last season, Butler struggled defensively with Andre Screen and Boden Kapke at the 5. In prior seasons, Jalen Thomas, a natural 4, was forced to play out of position. Jones is quickly becoming a two-way force, playing under control offensively and showcasing an advanced feel for passing, giving the Dawgs another playmaker with the ball in his hands.

Traore is a highly skilled offensive player and is more than capable of playing starter's minutes if needed. With Jones and Traore playing 20 and 16 minutes per game, respectively, and Michael Ajayi spending time as a small-ball five, extended minutes for Ndzie are not available, leading to the decision to redshirt.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Kevin Ndzie to redshirt for Butler basketball, preserve eligibility

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