BUTLER TWP — Kelley Kuharic and Damien Pickett are easy to pick out on a football field.

The two have been Butler’s leading receiver and rusher, respectively, in each of the past two years. Both are receiving interest from college teams as well.

While the Golden Tornado football season ended weeks ago, the high school athletic careers of Kuharic and Pickett are far from over.

Both are members of the varsity basketball team. Neither starts or plays a prominent role in terms of minutes.

Both play key roles in the team’s success on the court.

“They love to compete. That’s why they’re here,” Butler basketball coach Matt Clement said. “They are competitors and they are difference-makers for us.

“They impact the game virtually every time they hit the floor.”

The same intensity Kuharic and Pickett brought to football, they bring to basketball.

“My role is to get out there and get after it,” Kuharic said of his time on the court. “I’m here to work hard for this team.

“Sure, being a senior, I’d love to play more. But when you see what the younger guys are doing ... the Stutz boys, Connor Ollio, Tyler (Frederick), all of them, they’ve been incredible. It’s easy to want to support those efforts.”

Clement said Kuharic offers encouragement on the bench as well as on the floor.

“Luke (Michalek) had a rough game the other night and as he sat down, Kelley told him to keep his head up, that the team’s gonna need him,” Clement said. “That’s a senior who’s not on the floor at the moment helping a sophomore who is.”

Pickett suffered a shoulder injury during football season and Kuharic suffered a high ankle sprain in the season finale at Central Catholic. Both were ready to go for the basketball opener.

“Damien was voted as one of our captains by his teammates,” Clement said. “That’s what the other kids think of him.”

Pickett had a simple description of his role on the team.

“Make something happen,” he said. “If someone gets in foul trouble, I have to be ready to deliver quality minutes.”

Both of these guys have done that.

Kuharic has drained 11 treys coming off the bench. Pickett has produced assists and steals during key times. Both play gritty, aggressive defense.

“They’re never afraid or intimidated by the situation,” Clement said. “I can send them out there in the heat of a game and know they won’t take crap from anybody. They’ll be the ones giving it, not taking it.”

Kuharic had 14 catches for 219 yards — averaging 31 yards per catch — and four touchdowns last fall despite missing Butler’s first two football games due to mononucleosis. He may attend Butler County Community College next fall, but is also considering football opportunities at West Virginia Wesleyan and Thiel.

Pickett rushed for a combined 1,147 yards and scored nine touchdowns for the Tornado the past two seasons. Shippensburg, Notre Dame (Ohio) and Westminster have interest in him as a running back.

But that’s for later. Basketball is now.

“I just love playing both sports,” Pickett said. “It wasn’t hard getting ready for basketball season. I looked forward to it and got myself ready.”

Kuharic missed nearly four weeks of basketball preseason because of his ankle injury.

“He really didn’t have a preseason. His first week was our second scrimmage,” Clement said.

Now both standout football players are part of the basketball rotation.

“It’s fun being a part of this team,” Kuharic said. “I’m just here to contribute.”

Clement welcomes the presence of the two seniors.

“They’re outstanding leaders. They make us better in a lot of ways,” the coach said.