Butler Is Expected to Announce He Will Attend UC Irvine

Former Ocean View High School forward Ricky Butler is expected to announce tonight that he will attend UC Irvine beginning this fall.

Butler was to attend the University of Kansas on a basketball scholarship, but he failed to meet the university’s academic admission standards.

Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan said last week that he had expected Butler to announce a decision Sunday about where he would enroll.

But a source close to Butler said late Sunday night that Butler would delay that announcement until he notified representatives of one of the other schools recruiting him and informed them of his decision. Butler was reportedly considering Irvine, San Diego State and Cal State Long Beach.

Butler can qualify for admission to UC Irvine under a special admissions program, according to Mulligan, but would not be eligible to play next season.

Butler is a three-time selection to The Times’ All-Orange County team. He averaged 15 points and 12.8 rebounds per game as a senior at Ocean View last season.