Tennessee’s coaching staff for the men’s basketball team is doing what they can to parlay a surprisingly great 2017-18 season into success on the recruiting trail. And they’re in a good position for one of their top targets in the 2019 class right now.
D.J. Burns, a four-star center/power forward out of South Carolina, confirmed that he’ll be taking an official visit to Tennessee later this week starting on Thursday per a report from 247Sports. The 247Sports Composite rankings have Burns rated as the No. 74 overall player in the 2019 class and the 18th-best center in the class.
Right now, Burns holds offers from Virginia, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Georgia, and others. He unofficially visited the Vols when they played North Carolina in front of a sold out Thompson-Boling Arena on December 17th, and he unofficially visited Tennessee’s campus back on October 14th as well.
His trip to Knoxville later this week will mark his first official visit of his recruitment. Tennessee sent an offer to the 6-foot-9, 255 pound prospect back in mid-June of 2016. They were one of the first schools to offer Burns.
Burns’ highlight film shows off his extensive offensive game. The latest film available is of his sophomore year during the 2016-17 season, but even then it was apparent that he has high level offensive talent. He doesn’t just use his size to bully his way to the basket; Burns knows several post moves and even has a solid jump shot. He’s a force on defense as well, altering and blocking shots on several occasions.
During the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League last summer Burns totaled 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in just 16.1 minutes per contest. He shot 55.3 percent overall from the field and a solid 70 percent from the free throw line in those eight games.
As of early February of this year, Burns had recorded 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his high school career. He averaged over 15 points and 10 rebounds for York Prep in South Carolina this past season.
The Vols will be looking to replace big man Kyle Alexander after the 2018-19 season when he graduates. Tennessee is targeting several power forwards and centers in the 2019 class. Nearly half (14 of 32 offers) of the Vols’ scholarship offers in the 2019 cycle have been to players at those positions, and Burns is one of their top targets there.
Tennessee so far only has one commitment in the 2019 class, and that’s from high three-star small forward Davonte Gaines. The Vols should have room to add three or four total players in their 2019 class depending on how the 2018-19 season shakes out.
