Lima's Butler will play in Germany instead of Turkey

COLOGNE, Germany - Jamar Butler's European basketball career will begin again this week, but it will be in Germany, not in Turkey as his agent said on Dec. 19.

Butler, a Shawnee High School grad, arrived in Cologne, Germany, today, where he will play for the Kolen - the German spelling of Cologne - 99ers, a team in the Bundesliga, reportedly the top German professional league.

"This is pretty much a better offer and a better situation for him," Butler's agent, John Spencer, said Monday.

Several former Ohio State players currently are playing professionally in Germany, including Je'Kel Foster, Matt Terwilliger, Ken Johnson and Brian Brown.

Butler was ready to sign to play in Ankara, Turkey, when the offer to play in Germany became available.

The former Ohio State and Shawnee High School guard began the season playing for an Italian pro team but asked out of his contract because of conflicts with the team's coach.

When Spencer was asked to compare the quality of basketball played in Germany versus Turkey or Italy, he said, "I think all leagues have teams that are really good, and they have teams that are average.  But the team in Germany is much better than the team he would have played on in Turkey."

Butler, who started 3 1/2 years at Ohio State, averaged 15 points and six assists a game last season for the Buckeyes.  He finished his college career with 1,313 points.  He was Ohio's Mr. Basketball in 2004 and was first-team All-Ohio three years.