There aren’t many times when an SHS athlete commits to a Division I college. Senior Joey Brunk has recently decided he will be attending the Division I Butler University. Brunk will be playing basketball for the Bulldogs, while furthering his education on a full-ride scholarship.
Brunk has grown up in the Indianapolis area all of his life and will now go to a school right in his hometown.
Brunk started school at Southport Elementary and went through Southport Middle before transferring to Park Tudor High School. However, he decided to come back to Southport sophomore year.
Brunk had many offers from other schools all over the country including Purdue, Indiana, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Xavier, Northwestern, Illinois and Missouri. With all of the offers Brunk received, he says that he still wanted to stay close to home, so he chose Butler.
“I wanted to stay close to home, and I have a good relationship with my younger brother,” Brunk said.
According to Brunk, he fit in with the players at Butler and has a good relationship with Butler’s coach, Chris Holtmann.
Brunk was Butler’s first commitment for the 2016 season, and he was Butler’s first Marion County top 100 commitment since 2000.
Brunk wants to be able to go to Butler and help right away.
“If I can’t contribute in the game, then I will be able to help in practice, but hopefully I will get my chance,” Brunk said. “But the main focus right now is senior year.”
While Brunk is recognized as a great player, he feels that he has some holes in his game.
“I need to continue to get more mobile, get stronger, more athletic,” Brunk said. “As the level of basketball increases, you have to be a better athlete. It’s an ongoing process.”
This will be Brunk’s last season of high school basketball, and then he is off to the college level. This year he will be able to play the season without the stress of performing for the college scouts.