BUTLER TWP — Prior to this basketball season, Butler senior point guard Nate Snodgrass was considered to be a Division III prospect.

No more.

Averaging 21 points per game this year, Snodgrass verbally committed to the Naval Academy Friday.

St. Francis (Pa.) and Duquesne were other Division I schools he considered before making his decision.

“Those are three good options and none of them were there before Christmas,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “He made himself a Division I recruit when he showed he's a point guard who can score, but doesn't have to score.

“That kind of player is rare coming out of high school.”

Snodgrass visited the Naval Academy Feb. 17-19 and attended the Midshipmen's game with Colgate.

“I really liked the players and the coaches there, and what Navy has to offer me in life,” Snodgrass said. “They have a number of academic programs to choose from.

“For how they can help me in life, that was the place to go.”

Clement agreed.

“Nate has the personality to handle the regimen, the uniform, the attention to detail,” the coach said. “I said from the day they offered ... If he can handle the commitment, he doesn't have a better choice on his plate.”

Snodgrass becomes the second Butler boys basketball player to join a Division I program in college. Jerry Schmeider lettered for the University of Cincinnati in 1970-71.

Snodgrass is fourth on Butler's boys all-time scoring list with 1,120 points, trailing only Shawn Bellis, Mark Maier and Tyrell Sales. He trails Sales by 85 points.

“Nate is the best player I've seen come through here,” said Butler varsity assistant coach Jim Gallagher, involved with the program since 1988. “It's not just his ballhandling and shooting skills, or his free throw shooting. He plays great defense as well.

“We never had any concern about what school he was going to select. He's one of those kids who will be successful no matter where he goes.”

Snodgrass is shooting 91 percent from the foul line, 49 percent from the floor, 44 percent from 3-point range. He averages 5.7 assists per game.

He is also ranked No. 1 academically in Butler's senior class with a 4.51 grade point average.

Navy recently ended its 2011-12 season with an 87-63 loss to Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament. The Midshipmen were 3-26, lost their final 22 games and were 0-14 in the Patriot League.

Of the 20 players on their roster, six are sophomores and 10 are freshmen.

“The coaches told me I'll have a chance to step right in and play,” Snodgrass said. “I proved I can be a leader at Butler and I think I can be a leader there.

“We'll have a young team that can grow together.”

While a verbal commitment is not binding, Snodgrass said “I'm pretty set on this.”

Navy's coach is Ed DeChellis, who resigned from Penn State after last season to take the reins of the Midshipmen. One of his assistants, Kurt Kanasky, is a former head coach at Indiana (Pa.) University.

DeChellis has led Penn State and East Tennessee State to the NCAA Tournament during his coaching career.

“My dream has been to play in March Madness,” Snodgrass said. “That's a goal of mine, along with winning the Patriot League. That's been a league that seems to have a different winner every year.”

Navy has been to the NCAA Tournament 13 times. Its last appearance was in 2000.

“Their two point guards this year were walk-ons,” Clement said. “Nate has the chance to make an immediate impact there and he deserves that.”

Navy was last in the Patriot League this season with 57.7 points per game, a 68.4 free throw percentage and 11.4 assists per game.