Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher was a standout basketball player at Kokomo High School from 1953-1955. Upon graduation, he was selected to the prestigious Indiana All-Star team and was named to the 1980 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team.

While at Kokomo, Butcher had a then-Memorial Gymnasium record 34-point game in his All-North Central Conference senior season in 1955. He also hit two free throws with 20 seconds left to lead Kokomo to a 65-63 upset of undefeated and No. 1-ranked Muncie Central in front of 7,500 fans in Memorial Gym.

During his time leading the Wildkats, Kokomo squads went 18-8 and 18-5 during his final two seasons with sectional and regional titles his junior campaign under legendary coach Joe Platt. Butcher also played baseball for Platt.

Butcher continued on to play two seasons of basketball at Montana State University under Dobbie Lambert, where he averaged 8.8 and 11.2 points, respectively, per game as a starting guard. He was named to the All-Tournament squad of the All-American City Tournament after scoring 30 points against Iona College. He was also No. 2 in the nation with a 94-percent free throw percentage.