After graduating from Cal Berkeley, Hays, a 193-centimetre (6 ft 4 in) point guard, nominated for the 1984 NBA draft and was a 7th-round pick for the Chicago Bulls who that year also drafted a player from North Carolina named Michael Jordan. As draftees, Hays and Jordan roomed together and actually lived together for six months before Hays was released from his contract.

Hays next landed in the Continental Basketball Association where in 1988 he signed with new team, the San Jose Jammers.

After two years with the Jammers, Hays was then signed for two years as an import player by the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League. Butch then continued his storied NBL career as the starting point guard for the Wollongong Hawks, Newcastle Falcons, North Melbourne Giants and Canberra Canons before retiring from the NBL at the age of 41.