August 4, 2002 — The Omaha World-Herald reports that 16-year-old Josh Dotzler, a point guard at Nebraska high school basketball powerhouse Bellevue West, becomes the youngest player to receive a scholarship offer from Creighton head coach Dana Altman.
Dotzler was preparing to start his sophomore year of high school when he made the CU offer public, coming off a freshman year averaging 10.2 points, 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game. He bumped those numbers up in his sophomore season, averaging 14.8 points, 6.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game.
Dotzler would give Altman his verbal commitment during that sophomore season. He kept his commitment even after being recruited by the likes of Kansas and Michigan State. An anecdote from an article written by Steve Pivovar the day Dotzler signed:
According to Bellevue West Coach Doug Woodard, the Thunderbirds’ Athletic Director Kevin Broderick ran into Izzo at an airport after Izzo had watched Dotzler play in a tournament in Louisville, Ky.
“Coach Izzo told our A.D. that he had just watched Josh tear up three guys they were looking to recruit,” Woodard said, “and that Josh was one of the best pure point guards that he’d seen.”
The word tear was instrumental in Dotzler’s future career at CU. During a freshman season that saw him contribute instantly at the point, Dotzler tore his posterior cruciate ligament during a home game against Southern Illinois. He battled numerous other injuries during his time on the hilltop, but always remained a positive and successful leader of his teams.
Dotzler ended his career among the top 10 of Creighton’s all-time steals and assists leaders..