Mark Pope thinks it’s important to assist players develop as men both on and off the court, but at the moment, he doesn’t have many players to help. According to Jeff Borzello, a familiar face has formally re-entered the transfer portal and is searching for a new home, which could be fortunate for Coach Pope.
A brilliant forward for UCF and former Kentucky basketball player has said that he is using the portal to look for his fourth team in as many years. Burks may gain just as much from the merger, and Kentucky would be wise to become involved.
You’re probably wondering why Kentucky would get in touch with us at all since all you can recall about Burks is his freshman year in Lexington. Burks averaged just 7.1 minutes and 1.9 points in 20 appearances during his first stint here, spending the great bulk of his time on the bench.
Even yet, he occasionally displayed high-end promise in Lexington. Burks had his greatest game in blue and white against Vanderbilt, scoring 12 points on a flawless 6-for-6 shooting effort while also collecting five rebounds.
And he’s only gotten better since leaving Kentucky. Burks’ playing time increased along with his effectiveness after moving to Georgetown for his second year. His stats slightly improved when he dropped to 19 minutes per night, averaging 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Hoyas at the end of the season.
However, he really displayed the talent that first drew him to Lexington this past year at UCF. Burks more than doubled his scoring output, averaging 13.3 points per game and pulling down 4.8 rebounds while starting all 33 games for the Knights.
His ability to remain reasonably effective from the perimeter as well—killing 37% of his shots from deep—was perhaps the most remarkable aspect of his leap.
The Perfect Glue Guy
Given the need for scorers, the six-foot-nine forward makes sense for Kentucky’s present roster composition. Burks rarely turns the ball over, even though he doesn’t pass as often as you might like.
Burks is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. He brings unrelenting energy and multi-level scoring to the floor, but he doesn’t really stand out in any one area.
Burks has developed into a strong perimeter shooter, an opportunistic rebounder, and a very competent defender. It is a true luxury to have a man who is almost a Swiss Army knife, especially when he is not on the bench. Any night of the week, I would welcome that level of depth.
Benefits For Both Parties
Naturally, a reunion through the transfer portal is never assured, but the reasoning makes sense for both the player and the team. Kentucky continues to be a prime location for guys who want to show up and show off, and Burks needs a prominent stage to demonstrate that he can take another growth step.
Although it’s said that you can never return home, Jordan Burks should be welcome back in Lexington at this time as Mark Pope is searching for complimentary components that fit a hardworking culture.
