Butler banking on potential of signee Markeese Hastings

INDIANAPOLIS – Markeese Hastings’ high school coach calls him a basketball player without a position. He will arrive at Butler without a ranking.

He went through spring, summer and fall without a scholarship offer from a power conference team. He said he believed in himself, and Butler coach LaVall Jordan believed in him.

So when Hastings visited campus on Nov. 10, the day the Bulldogs opened the season by beating Kennesaw State, he accepted their offer. The Hinkle Fieldhouse sellout didn’t hurt, either.

“The atmosphere was crazy,” Hastings said. “The gym wasn’t too big, and it wasn’t too small. I felt really welcomed when I went there. It felt like a good community.”

The 6-7 Hastings, 17, a senior at Godwin Heights in Wyoming, Mich., signed with Butler last week.

He became the first player in Jordan’s first recruiting class, and it could be argued there is risk on both sides. Hastings was recruited mostly by the Horizon League and Mid-American Conference, and his decision came down to Butler or Cleveland State.

He averaged 14.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game as a junior for a Grand Rapids-area team that was 22-2 and ranked No. 1 most of the season in Class B, second-largest of Michigan’s four classes. Godwin Heights coach Tyler Whittemore said Hastings was assigned to guard the opponent’s best player, irrespective of position.

“The ceiling is so high,” Whittemore said. “He’s great now, but he’s going to get so much better because of his athleticism and size. And foremost, his work ethic.”

Indeed. When asked about hobbies, Hastings replied:

“If I’ve got nothing to do, I’m going to find the weight room.”

Hastings can strive to become another little-regarded recruit who thrived at Butler during the 2000s. The long list usually starts with Gordon Hayward, but also includes the late Andrew Smith and Joel Cornette, guards Ronald Nored and Shawn Vanzant, and walk-ons Alex Barlow and Drew Streicher.

Whittemore called Hastings a leader and someone who has grown out of his quiet nature. He occasionally read announcements over the school’s public address system last year.

Hastings attracted attention during the summer AAU circuit and matched up favorably against some of the nation’s top prospects, according to Jordan.

“He brings some athleticism and a defensive mind-set,” the Butler coach said. “He’s a tough, competitive kid. He’s got a strong, athletic frame. And he’s grown his skill set to where he can handle the ball on the perimeter and get to the basket. He’s starting to make some shots. I wouldn’t call him a shooter yet. So he’s different from what we have.

“He loved the idea of Butler. I’m excited about his potential because he’s grown a lot in the last year.”

Butler has three scholarships left in the 2018 class. The Bulldogs could add graduate transfers next spring, hold onto scholarships for the 2019 class, or both.

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