Butler standout Snodgrass will play at new Division I college

Butler High School basketball star Nate Snodgrass decided earlier this summer the Naval Academy wasn't for him. But he will still play Division I basketball.

Snodgrass, who was a Post-Gazette Fabulous 5 selection this past season, has accepted a scholarship to play at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Ky. Northern Kentucky, located seven miles southeast of Cincinnati, has been a strong NCAA Division II program, but will move up to Division I this season.

"I just committed to them two days ago," said Snodgrass, a 6-foot-1 point guard.

Northern Kentucky will play in the Atlantic Sun Conference, a 10-team league that also includes East Tennessee State, Stetson, Jacksonville, Florida Gulf Coast, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, North Florida, South Carolina Upstate and Mercer.

"I'm relieved and happy," Snodgrass said of his Northern Kentucky decision.

The Navy basketball team recruited Snodgrass and he decided in March to play for coach Ed DeChellis. Snodgrass left for the Naval Academy's "Plebe Summer" June 28. But he said he didn't like the military lifestyle and left after two weeks. He did not attend classes at Navy, so he was free to leave and transfer to another school without penalty from Navy or the NCAA.

"Northern Kentucky has a senior point guard, but that's about it," Snodgrass said. "So I should be the backup and have a chance to play a lot in the future."

Snodgrass averaged 20 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds a game this past season, shot 40 percent from 3-point range and 90-percent from the free-throw line.