D. J. Burns Jr.
Burns with Winthrop in 2020
No. 30 – NC State Wolfpack
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueAtlantic Coast Conference
Personal information
Born (2000-10-13) October 13, 2000
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight275 lb (125 kg)
Career information
High schoolYork Prep Academy
(Rock Hill, South Carolina)
College
Career highlights and awards

Dwight Keith Burns Jr. (born October 13, 2000) is an American college basketball player for the NC State Wolfpack of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He previously played for the Winthrop Eagles of the Big South Conference.

Early life and high school career

Burns grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina and attended Clover Intermediate School, standing 6'7 in eighth grade. He enrolled at York Preparatory Academy.[1] As a freshman, Burns averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds per game.[2] He averaged 14.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 blocks per game as a sophomore. As a junior, Burns averaged 14.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, earning MVP honors of the C. Dan Joyner Poinsettia Classic and the USA National Prep Championship. He reclassified from the Class of 2019 to the Class of 2018.[3] In three seasons, Burns recorded over 1,000 career points and over 1,000 rebounds. A top 100 recruit, Burns committed to playing college basketball for Tennessee in June 2018, choosing the Volunteers over offers from South Carolina and Virginia.[4]

College career

Burns redshirted his freshman season at Tennessee and lost weight. Following the season, he transferred to Winthrop and received a waiver for immediate eligibility. Burns was named Big South Freshman of the Year.[1] He averaged 11.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.[5] As a sophomore, Burns averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, earning Honorable Mention All-Big South honors.[6] He declared for the 2021 NBA draft, but ultimately returned to Winthrop.[7] In his junior season debut, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 110–78 win against Mary Baldwin University.[8] As a junior, Burns was named Big South Player of the Year.[9]

In May 2022, Burns announced he would play for NC State in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2022–2023 season.[10]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Tennessee Redshirt Redshirt
2019–20 Winthrop 331617.5.583.000.5714.11.2.5.711.9
2020–21 Winthrop 252415.7.582.000.6103.4.6.6.510.1
2021–22 Winthrop 322720.9.626.000.6464.51.1.5.415.0
2022–23 NC State 342222.9.561.000.6154.81.5.7.912.5
Career 1248919.5.589.000.6124.21.1.6.612.5

Personal life

Burns's father, Dwight Sr., is the agent in charge of York County for South Carolina Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. His mother, Takela, is an assistant principal at Dutchman Creek Middle School.[1] Burns has a younger sister, Nadia. He is a multi-instrumentalist, playing the stand-up bass, tuba, piano and saxophone.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Zietlow, Alex (March 5, 2020). "How DJ Burns, Rock Hill's own and Winthrop's key to making 2020 NCAA's, came home". The Herald. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  2. 1 2 McCormick, Bret (May 30, 2016). "York Prep's gentle giant uncovering his nastier self". The Herald. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Forward D.J. Burns Signs with Tennessee". Tennessee Volunteers. June 6, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ McCormick, Bret (June 2, 2018). "York Prep's D.J. Burns makes his college basketball decision". The Herald. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ "PREVIEW: @DuqMBB at Wade Houston Tipoff Classic". Duquesne Dukes. November 28, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ Shealy, Matthew (October 27, 2021). "Winthrop picked to finish on top in men's basketball conference preseason poll". The Johnsonian. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  7. ↑ Shaw, Jamie (November 9, 2021). "Shaw's Sleepers: Winthrop's DJ Burns has the makings of a dominant big man". Heat Check CBB. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Prosser Era Begins With 110–78 Win, Burns Jr. Posts Career-High 30 Points". Winthrop Eagles. November 9, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Big South Announces 2021–22 Men's Basketball Annual Award Winners" (Press release). Big South Conference. March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Winthrop transfer DJ Burns commits to NC State" (Press release). PackPride. May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
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