Former Tennessee basketball power forward D.J. Burns is headed back to the power five, announcing that he is transferring to North Carolina State.
LET’S GO LET’S GO 🐺🌹 #smoothoperator pic.twitter.com/0Yw6sKMjS6
— DJ Burns (@beastboyburns) May 11, 2022
Once upon a time, Burns was the first four-star recruit Rick Barnes signed in his Tennessee tenure. Burns graduated from high school a season early, committing to the Vols over South Carolina and becoming the lone signee in Tennessee’s 2018 recruiting class.
The power forward redshirted his lone season in Knoxville as the Vols spent six weeks as the No. 1 team in the country and Burns made the full adjustment from high school to college.
After not playing a minute during his Tennessee career, Burns transferred back to his home state South Carolina to play for Winthrop.
Burns shined in three seasons at Winthrop, averaging double digit scoring in all three seasons as a strong low post scorer.
The 6-foot-9 power forward averaged 15 points and 4.5 rebounds a game in his redshirt-junior season, earning Big South Player of the Year honors in the process. After earning All-Conference honors last season and leading Winthrop to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, Burns entered the transfer portal.
The power forward is back in big time college basketball this time on “Tobacco Road” at North Carolina State.
Due to his redshirt season and NCAA COVID-19 eligibility relief, Burns still has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
