BREAKING NEWS: Mark Pope Could Bring Back A Former Cat To Fill A Crucial Roster Hole For Kentucky
Mark Pope believes in helping players grow as men on and off the court; right now, though, he’s got few guys to grow at all. Potentially lucky for Coach Pope, a familiar face has officially re-entered the transfer portal and is looking for a new home, per Jeff Borzello.
UCF forward, and former Kentucky basketball player, Jordan Burks, has announced he is hitting the portal, seeking his fourth team in as many years. Kentucky would be wise to get involved, and Burks could equally benefit from the union.
If you only remember Burks from his freshman year in Lexington, you’re likely wondering why Kentucky would make contact here at all. During his first run here, he spent the vast majority of his time on the bench; Burks averaged just 7.1 minutes and 1.9 points in 20 total appearances.
Jordan Burks Got Better
Although he did show flashes of high-end potential in Lexington, even if rarely. Burks’ best game in blue and white came against Vanderbilt, when he dropped 12 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance, grabbing 5 boards to boot.
And leaving Kentucky, he’s only improved. After transferring to Georgetown for year two, Burks saw his playing time jump alongside his performance. He lept to 19 minutes a night, and his stats improved modestly, finishing the season averaging 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest for the Hoyas.
But it was this past year at UCF where he truly showcased the talent that initially brought him to Lexington. Starting all 33 games for the Knights, Burks more than doubled his scoring output, averaging 13.3 points per game, whilst grabbing 4.8 rebounds in the process
Perhaps the most impressive part of his jump was that he remained fairly efficient from the perimeter, too, knocking down 37% of his attempts percent from deep.
The Perfect Glue Guy
The six-foot-nine forward makes sense for Kentucky’s current roster makeup, especially given the need for scorers. While Burks doesn’t pass as much as you may like him too, he also rarely turns the ball over.
Burks kind of fits that jack-of-all-trades vibe. He doesn’t really stand out in one particular area, but he brings relentless energy and multi-level scoring to the floor.
Burks has evolved into a highly capable defender, a solid perimeter shooter, and an opportunistic rebounder. Having a guy that is essentially a Swiss Army knife, especially off the bench is an absolute luxury. I would take that kind of depth any night of the week.
Benefits For Both Parties
Of course, a reunion in the transfer portal is never guaranteed, but the logic is sound for both team and player. Burks needs a high-profile stage to showcase that he can take another developmental step, and Kentucky remains prime real estate for guys who want to show up and show out.
They say you can’t ever go home again, but with Mark Pope looking for complementary pieces that fit a hard-working culture, Jordan Burks should absolutely be welcome back in Lexington right now.
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