Middleton, Fla. — The Villages High School boys basketball program sent two more players to the Division I level Wednesday in Middleton.

Ethan Bevis (Air Force) and Herly Brutus (LSU) signed their letters of intent to continue their careers at the collegiate level, becoming the sixth and seventh players in program history to sign with a Division I university.

"Both of these young men have worked a process for a very long time," said VHS head coach Colt McDowell. "We've seen them grow into the men that they are – and it's not always been easy – but we've grown together through it. Both of them work really hard to the best they can be, and I'm proud of the men they've become."

A homegrown product, Bevis has blossomed into a dynamic 6-foot-6-inch wing that shot 38% from beyond the arc in last season's state runner-up finish. Bevis averaged nearly six points and six rebounds per game a year ago.

"It's been my dream to play college basketball," Bevis said. "Buffalo basketball has been amazing to me over these past four years and I've made memories that'll last a lifetime. There's so many people who've helped me make this dream a reality."

Brutus is set to play his second season in a Buffalo uniform this fall, after transferring from Umatilla prior to last season. As a junior, the 6-foot-7-inch Brutus stuffed the statsheet with per-game averages of 10.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a block per game for VHS.

"I'm so thankful for all the hard work and advice that my coaches have given me throughout this (process)," said Brutus. "I especially want to thank Coach Colt (McDowell) for sticking with me when things got hard and believing in me."

The duo became part of an exclusive club of former Buffalo basketball players signing to a Division I program, joining the likes of Isaiah Jackson (George Mason), Tre Mann (Florida), Terry Ivery (Stetson), Ricardo Wright (Marist) and Sam Walters (Alabama).


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment via email at cody.hills@tvcs.org.