INDIANAPOLIS – Butler is intensifying efforts to secure a commitment in the 2018 basketball recruiting class.

The Bulldogs have offered a scholarship to Dontarius James, a 6-7 forward from Andrew Jackson High School in Kershaw, S.C. He is not ranked by any national scouting services but has offers from Kansas and Xavier, plus mid-majors such as Massachusetts, UAB, East Tennessee State, Old Dominion, South Alabama and Austin Peay.

James averaged 27.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game for a 16-6 team last season, according to MaxPreps.

Kansas’ offer is seen as a ploy to secure the commitment of Zion Williamson of Spartanburg, S.C. Williamson is the nation’s No. 1- or 2-ranked player who knows James from summer basketball.

Butler awaits a Nov. 8 announcement by 6-5 Chance Moore, who is in prep school at Beckley, W.Va. Moore, a Louisville, Ky., native, posted on Twitter that he will pick from a final four of Butler, Virginia Tech, Wichita State and Dayton.

The Bulldogs are also pursuing top-40 shooting guard Tyler Herro of Greenfield, Wis. The 6-4 Herro, who rescinded a commitment to Wisconsin, is considering Kentucky, Kansas, Villanova and Oregon.

Butler assistant coach Omar Lowery went to high school with Herro’s father.

“I am definitely looking at them pretty hard,” Herro told Rivals.

First-year Butler coach LaVall Jordan has four scholarships available and no commitments in the 2018 class. Butler has one commitment, Carmel’s 6-9 John-Michael Mulloy, in the 2019 class.

The Bulldogs have offers out to three other 2019 prospects from Indiana: 6-8 Trayce Jackson-Davis, Center Grove; 6-7 Mason Gillis, New Castle, and 6-3 Alex Hemenway, Castle.

Call IndyStar reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.

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