Antonio Burks of Memphis Selected In NBA Draft

Antonio Burks

Former University of Memphis point guard Antonio Burks was hoping he wouldn't have to move to a new home following Thursday's NBA Draft. And, after the draft and a deal, Burks learned he would be playing the in NBA without even leaving the city limits.

The 6-foot-1 guard was selected 36th by the Orlando Magic in the draft's second round. Then, after the Memphis Grizzlies picked at 49th, the club orchestrated two separate deals, adding Burks and Texas Tech standout Andre Emmett. So, Burks - along with the Memphis Tigers - will be
playing in the FedExForum in 2004-05. The 2004 Conference USA Player of the Year, Burks guided the Tigers to a 22-8 overall record and a 12-4 league mark last year. Memphis won a share of the C-USA regular-season crown and earned a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. The Tigers won their NCAA first-round game over South Carolina, before falling to NCAA Final Four participant Oklahoma State in the second round.

The Memphis, Tenn., native piled up the honors following his senior campaign. In addition to the C-USA Player of the Year accolade, Burks was named Associated Press All-America honorable mention, ESPN.com Conference USA Player of the Year, All-Conference USA first team, CollegeInsider.com All-America team, Basketball Times All-South Team and National Association of Basketball Coach (NABC) All-District 7 second
team. He was also a finalist for the inaugural Bob Cousy Award, recognizing the nation's top point guard.

Burks finished his career with 1,028 points (11.3 ppg), 487 assists (5.4 apg) and 177 steals (1.9 spg). He is only the fourth player in Tiger history to have 1,000 points, 450 assists and 170 steals. Andre Turner, Elliot Perry and Otis Jackson are the other three Tigers to accomplish that feat. Burks completed his career on the Memphis career charts for scoring (No. 34), assists (No. 6) and steals (No. 5). Burks was second on the 2003-04 squad in scoring (16.0 ppg) and led the team with 165 assists. He ranked among C-USA leaders in scoring (8th), assists (2nd), steals (1st), three-point field goal percentage (6th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd).

He is the first Tiger player to be drafted since Dajuan Wagner was taken with the sixth pick of the 2002 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is the Conference USA 26th basketball player drafted in the league's nine years of competition.