NCAA Basketball: Top 10 players to wear jersey No. 30 in 2023-24 season
By Joey Loose
2. D. J. Burns Jr. (NC State)
Six years ago, Burns spent a redshirt season at Tennessee before opting to transfer to Winthrop. He became a menace of a big man in the Big South, even winning the league’s Player of the Year award back in 2022. After three years with the Eagles, Burns transferred back to the power conference level at NC State. His two seasons with the Wolfpack were filled with solid moments, though that legendary run NC State went on in March certainly cemented his place on this list.
Though he didn’t quite match his numbers as a junior at Winthrop, Burns still shined with 12.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. This season actually saw the worst shooting numbers of his career. Regardless, Burns was still one of the better scorers and effective frontcourt weapons in the ACC. He also played an immensely important role in the Wolfpack’s run to the ACC Tournament title and the Final Four.
Burns was actually a consistent scoring threat through the season for NC State, tough the focus tends to be on his brilliant March. He actually scored 27 points in a tough loss against Duke, though his team would get revenge twice. Burns was named ACC Tournament MVP, helping the Wolfpack win five games in five days, including 20 points in the title game over North Carolina. During that miraculous March run, Burns would score 24 points against Oakland in round two before a 29-point effort in another upset win over Duke. He created memories and a lasting impact that won’t soon be forgotten in this sport.