Former Mountaineer Da’Sean Butler returning to Morgantown as a grad assistant

Just one month after undergoing a third procedure on his left knee, it was announced that former West Virginia star Da’Sean Butler will be returning to the school as a graduate assistant.

The news, first reported by WVUSports.com’s John Antonik, was confirmed in a tweet by WVU head coach Bob Huggins.

Butler originally tore the ACL in his left knee in the 2010 Final Four, which resulted in one of the most touching player/coach images in recent history.

While playing with the Austin Toros in the D-League last season, Butler thought that pain in the knee was a result of him straining his ACL.

But when doctors took a look at Butler’s knee, it was discovered that the ACL had actually disintegrated.

“I had an MRI and [the doctors] were like, ‘Your ACL disintegrated, but your knee looks fine,’” says Butler. “It takes more than a few days for an ACL to disintegrate. It takes at least four weeks, but I was still playing with a knee brace and I was fine.”

With Butler needing this season to rehabilitate the knee in hopes of making a return to the court, why not return to Morgantown and work towards his master’s degree?

In an interview with West Virginia Illustrated Butler states that getting his master’s has been a goal, and this move ensures that he’ll be able to do so while also gaining some valuable experience under head coach Bob Huggins and his staff.

Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.