Starting at the age of 5, Davonte Butler had a schedule: Go to Morgan Hill to hit in the batting cages or play in a game before showing up at San Benito High to watch his older brother, Anthony, dazzle for the basketball team.
Davonte grew up idolizing the former San Benito High standout who was a part of a fantastic run the team had in the 2002 through 2004 seasons.
“I would show up in my baseball uniform at his basketball games,” Davonte said. “That was my idol right there.”
Anthony, who starred at center in the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons and is now the boys junior varsity coach, now gets a firsthand seat to watch his younger brother run things from the point guard position. Since there is a 13-year difference between the two, Anthony has been equal parts big brother and father figure for Davonte.
The two played a lot of 1-on-1 growing up, with Davonte achieving a milestone when he beat Anthony for the first time last year. It was a monumental moment for Davonte, who looks up to Anthony to this day and has been a great influence in his life.
“He pushes me to do a lot of things well,” Davonte said. “That’s where I get most of my success from. He has influenced me in all aspects of the game. I remember in my sophomore year before every game we would go over film, then go to the gym and work on something.”
David Kaplansky, the Gavilan men’s basketball coach who coached Anthony at San Benito, said Butler “is one of the better centers that has played at San Benito for sure. He had tremendous court awareness, a high basketball IQ and lived on the block as a classic back to the basket player. He was a tremendous rebounder and could guard smaller or bigger guys.”
Davonte started playing baseball at 3 and basketball at 5, and has been going non-stop in both since.
“People said I always tried to put on a show in the batting cages,” Davonte said. “I never wanted to stop swinging the bat.”
The two-sport standout—he plays pitcher and the outfield in baseball—doesn’t know which sport or where he’ll be playing in college, knowing that will play out if he continues to produce.
“I will try to come back stronger for baseball season once basketball is over,” he said. “Last year I came into baseball season kind of injured and banged up. I haven’t decided which sport is my favorite, but it’s hard to top basketball because I’ve watched Anthony play my whole life.”
