Opurum Named KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year, 3 Grizzlies Earn All-Conference Honors

Freshman Forward Nabs Impressive Honor

Opurum Named KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year, 3 Grizzlies Earn All-Conference Honors
March 19, 2025

The 2024-25 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division 1 Men's Basketball postseason awards were released on Wednesday and three Grizzlies received recognition.

View the full All-KJCCC selections by clicking here.

Freshman forward Emeka Opurum was named the KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year following his outstanding season. Opurum led the KJCCC in blocks (87) while ranking fourth in rebounds per game (8.1) in addition to helping Butler rank fourth in the KJCCC in points per game allowed this season (73.4). With Opurum in the lineup, opponents shot only 39.7 and turned the ball over 14.4 times per contest as Butler finished fifth in the KJCCC regular season and advanced to the NJCAA Region 6 Tournament semifinals. Nationally, Opurum ranked 14th in the NJCAA with 2.6 blocks per game and sixth in total blocks. Opurum was also named a First Team All-KJCCC selection.

Sophomore guards Russell Branch and Bubba Leavell were named honorable mention selections for the Grizzlies to round out the honorees.

Branch, a sophomore Hutchinson transfer, was Butler's leading scorer (11.5 points per game) as he had 16 games scoring in double figures. He also pulled down 4.2 rebounds per game and dished out 3.1 assists per game. He started 31 of Butler's 33 games on the season and ended the year scoring 14 points in back-to-back Region 6 Tournament games for Butler.

Leavell, a sophomore Highland transfer, served as the Grizzlies sharpshooter this year. He was Butler's second leading scorer averaging 11.2 points per game. His 88 made threes was third best in the conference as he shot at a 38.8% clip from distance (88-227). Leavell had 17 double digit scoring performances including five games scoring 20 or more.

Cowley's Marcus Whitlock was the league's MVP as well as Newcomer of the Year and the Tiger's head coach Donnie Jackson was the Coach of the Year. Colby's Eternity Eguagie was the Freshman of the Year.

Butler finished the season with a 22-11 overall record and were 15-9 in league play in first year head coach Eric Nitsche's first year in charge. The Grizzlies advanced to the Region 6 Tournament Semifinals before falling to top seed Cowley.

You can view the full All-KJCCC selections by clicking here.