Butler's Joey Brunk granted additional season by NCAA

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA has approved an additional college basketball season for Butler’s Joey Brunk.

Brunk, 20, a 6-11 Indiana All-Star from Southport, was granted a hardship waiver. He thus becomes a freshman in eligibility, joining a first-year Butler class that includes Aaron Thompson, Christian David and Jerald Gillens-Butler.

Brunk played in seven games a year ago, none after Dec. 10. He spent the rest of the winter tending to his ailing father, Joe Brunk, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Because of the family circumstance, the decision was made for Joey to sit out the rest of the season and apply to be a redshirt freshman. Joe Brunk died April 15 at age 56.

During his father’s illness, Joey spent exactly one night in his dorm room.

“It was hard to justify staying at my dorm room when my mom and dad and brother were that close,” he said in a recent interview.

Joey heeded the advice of another former Butler player, Erik Fromm, who lost his father to cancer in 2013. Fromm’s message: You cannot make up time spent with your dad.

“That’s more important than anything I could have done last year,” Joey said. “That’s something I’ll never regret or ever look back on.”

As a high school senior in 2016, Brunk was a Top 100 recruit and one of three finalists for IndyStar Mr. Basketball. He helped Southport to a 22-7 record and its first regional title since 1990.

He has come off the bench in seven of nine games for the Bulldogs (7-2). In 36 minutes played — or the equivalent of one full game – he has 10 points and 15 rebounds. Coach LaVall Jordan has repeatedly referred to the energy Brunk brings when he is called upon.

“I have a renewed sense of appreciate and passion for all of this,” Brunk said.

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

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