Jimmy Butler and Chad Ford. ESPN Front Page.

[buckchuckler]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Butler-110618

[jsglow]

Great story.  Way to be a man Jimmy.

[Stronghold]

I had no idea this was the case of Jimmy's upbringing until reading this story.  Much respect to the Lambert family, and it sounds like his mom was the main reason he came to Marquette.  I think this story speaks volume of the type of characters to come out of Marquette and I'm sure Jimmy will find a home in the NBA as well.  Some comments in the article by scouts and GMs sound very promising.

[mviale]

On espn HOME Page
http://espn.go.com/

[tower912]

Love the part where she praises MU's academics over the other schools.     I can hear bucky teeth grinding. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Great story.  Glad Jimmy got things turned around and it's awesome to see a family, with money tight, taking in another person into their family. 

[Tugg Speedman]

This means he's going to get drafted. 

ESPN is not going to hype Jimmy as the next Michael Oher (The Blindside) unless their contacts in the NBA community told them this story will end well with Jimmy getting drafted.

Lots of kids have interesting stories, but they are not that interesting unless they actually get drafted.

Congrats Jimmy, you're going to be an NBA player.

[mviale]

The kid or young man just has tremendous character. Most kids would have failed in the same circumstances

[ecompt]

a great story about a great kid who always made his alma mater proud. Congrats, Jimmy, and kudos to the Lamberts for opening their doors.

[National Champs]

Is he still projected to go 28th to the bulls or has he dropped a few spots?

[HouWarrior]

America likes the story--its is the currently most forwarded story on ESPN

[Skatastrophy]

Is he still projected to go 28th to the bulls or has he dropped a few spots?

Slam came out with an article today having him going to the Bulls at 28th

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/06/mock-jimmy-butler-no-28/

[Niv Berkowitz]

Simmons even tweeted about the story and said he was on the bandwagon. With 1.4 million followers, JFB is getting a lot of attention now.

[Brewtown Andy]

This means he's going to get drafted. 

ESPN is not going to hype Jimmy as the next Michael Oher (The Blindside) unless their contacts in the NBA community told them this story will end well with Jimmy getting drafted.

Lots of kids have interesting stories, but they are not that interesting unless they actually get drafted.

Congrats Jimmy, you're going to be an NBA player.

Since it was written by Ford, it should be interesting to see what happens with Ford's next Mock Draft.

[CTWarrior]

Too bad "The Blind Side" is already a book/movie, as this is practically an identical story there's no use in repeating it.  I would like to have seen Buzz in a movie ("we did 17 takes for my one line" or "I found out 37 days ago I would be in the movie..."). I don't think the line "I find him very attractive" would have made it's way into that movie.

[brewcity77]

As noted by houwarrior, this has been the most sent story on ESPN for quite a few days now. This has to be the best press Marquette has earned since Matthews became the surprise success story of the 2009 NBA Draft post-draft free agent pool, and is possibly even better as I'm pretty sure JFB will be a first round pick and one of the most talked-about players come draft night.

For all the talk about how good Buzz has done in bringing guys in, I think he's doing an even better job of sending them off. If the 2009 draft crop were repicked, Matthews would certainly be a top-five pick. Hayward goes in the first round. Butler seems a near-lock to follow him (I'm guessing #18 to Washington). McNeal gets a cup of coffee, Buycks is getting called into NBA predraft try-outs (even if he likely won't make a roster). Guys that many didn't have high hopes for, like Burke, Acker, and Cubillan, are finding success professionally overseas. And by and large, Buzz is sending them out as good citizens and representatives of Marquette. I'm sure plenty of people can find flaws and poke holes, but I'm really pleased not just by the kind of guys we're bringing in to Marquette, but the way in which they are leaving.

[dwaderoy2004]

Since it was written by Ford, it should be interesting to see what happens with Ford's next Mock Draft.

Ford's next mock is tomorrow, but he had an update today where he said this:

Butler's destination

After the story of Jimmy Butler's amazing journey to the NBA went viral this weekend, I've been flooded with questions about where he's going in the NBA draft.

Butler has worked out well wherever he's gone. He's had a huge number of workouts and the consensus among NBA teams is that he's a late first-round to early second-round pick.

A few teams in the first like the Rockets, Thunder, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls are all giving him looks. In the second round, the Cavs, Pistons, Kings and Wizards all have interest, as well. If he doesn't go in the first, I think his wait will be pretty short in the second.

[Brewtown Andy]

Ford's next mock is tomorrow, but he had an update today where he said this:

Butler's destination

After the story of Jimmy Butler's amazing journey to the NBA went viral this weekend, I've been flooded with questions about where he's going in the NBA draft.

Butler has worked out well wherever he's gone. He's had a huge number of workouts and the consensus among NBA teams is that he's a late first-round to early second-round pick.

A few teams in the first like the Rockets, Thunder, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls are all giving him looks. In the second round, the Cavs, Pistons, Kings and Wizards all have interest, as well. If he doesn't go in the first, I think his wait will be pretty short in the second.

Not bad for a guy that Ford himself had listed as #55 overall when the college season ended.