San Antonio, TX - Jordan Burns, Colgate University stand-out guard, has declared for the NBA Draft.
The San Antonio, Texas native has taken the Patriot League by storm. He just finished a stellar junior year season racking up a handful of postseason awards including Patriot League First Team and All-Tournament team. But when he looks back on the season, it's not his personal achievements that he reflects on most.
“I try to reflect on all the good we had. We had the best team in Colgate history I believe, even without the NCAA bid,” says Burns, “we had a lot of guys that did a lot of great things on the floor this year, not just myself. I think the fact that we were able to get to 25 wins and accomplish a lot of the goals that we set at the beginning of the season regardless that the ultimate goal wasn't accomplished.”
On Friday, Burns tweeted out his decision saying "Dreams are as real as you make them #blessed" with a picture attached thanking his coaches, teammates and fans at Colgate. He says a decision like this has been on his mind for a while.
“Ultimately at the beginning of the season one of my goals was to be able to declare for the draft and to be a declaration that people respected and it made sense with the year that I planned to have. With all the hard work that I put in, my coaches and my teammates who helped me get to this point. I think that's why I decided that it was time to explore and test the waters a little bit.”
He also thanks his family and attributes his hardworking mindset to them.
“My family has done a great job over the years of just constantly preaching work ethic to me. Just talking to my family and close friends and really trying to get the best feedback to see where I'd be able to go for next year or school if that’s the road we want to take. We're just trying to keep everything open right now.”
By rule, the NCAA allows players to return to school if they aren't selected in the draft if they participated in the combine. They cannot hire an agent and had to withdraw from the draft well before it actually occurred.
When looking at the bigger picture in the state of the coronavirus pandemic, Burns keeps perspective.
“With what's going on right now, it’s good to just find the good in everything and to not take anything for granted obviously. Just looking back and seeing how grateful I am for the two parents that I have, the two brothers that I have, just the support group around me that continues to make sure that I didn’t stray off the path. I’m just grateful for God, for giving me the mindset that I have in order to have the work ethic and just continue to push through any barriers and any type of adversity. I’m so grateful now to be sitting at home and for the life that I’m living.”
The NBA Draft Combine is scheduled for May 21-24, the NBA Draft is set for June 25.
While in quarantine Burns is getting in touch with his inner gamer, specifically Call of Duty 2. He says he wouldn't say he's the best but he's pretty good.
Photo courtesy of Colgate University Athletics.
