CLINTON, Iowa - Head Coach Oliver Drake and the Ashford University men's basketball announced on Wednesday that J.J. Butler has committed to continuing his academic and athletic careers as a member of the AU family.

Butler, a 6-6 forward, is transferring to Ashford from Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minn. where he just completed his sophomore season for Golden Rams. He averaged 11.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this past season while leading Anoka-Ramsey to a 22-8 record overall and an 8-4 mark in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC).

The team finished third in the MCTC/National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIII Tournament, falling to the eventual champions from Central Lakes Community College.

The Fordyce, Ark.-native was named to the MCAC Southern All-Division Team following his sophomore season after converting 45.9% (120-261) of his attempts from the floor and a team-high 36.9% (38-103) shooting clip from beyond the three-point arc. Butler recorded double-figures in 17 of the team's 27 regular season contests.

J.J. is the son of John and Sharon Butler and has one brother, Cory Carr, who was drafted in 1998 by the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association.

He plans to continue his degree in elementary education once he enrolls at AU.

Other members of the AU men's basketball 2012-13 class:

Erik Renkes - Fulton, Ill. (Fulton HS)

Austin Uhrig - Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Christian)

Cameron Burnett - Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook HS)

Joshua Little - Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook HS)

Jordan Flowers - Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral HS)

Tim Huber - Poplar Grove, Ill. (North Boone HS)

Tyler Yeocum - East Moline, Ill. (Rock Island Alleman HS)

Damon Overton - East Moline, Ill. (United Township HS)