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College basketball transfer portal: Richmond star Tyler Burton's top … – 247Sports
Richmond star wing Tyler Burton plans to enter the transfer portal, according to a report by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound senior has more than 1,600 points on his resume. Burton ranked third in the A-10 in scoring last season, averaging a whopping 19.0 points per game to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Burton drained 55 3-pointers in 33 games. Burton is a graduate student, so the May 11 deadline to enter the college basketball transfer portal does not apply. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Burton is still going through the NBA Draft process. Similar to recent highly-rated portal entries like North Dakota State’s Grant Nelson and Tennessee’s Julian Phillips, entering the transfer portal is an option, not the option for the Richmond star. Burton has been a double-digit performer for each of the past three seasons. He averaged 16.1 points per game and shot 36.5% from 3-point range in 2021-22 for a Richmond squad that advanced to the Round of 32. Burton’s usage rate spiked to a career-high 27.8% this past season, and his efficiency from downtown dipped (29.3%).
Burton is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in the country. Burton is a two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection. Burton is dangerous off the bounce and shot 71.8% at the rim last season, per CBB Analytics. Burton can create his own offense, and he’s been a knockdown catch-and-shoot assassin throughout his dazzling career. Burton lived at the charity stripe last year (205 attempts, 76%), and is an impactful defender.
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The Richmond star is a plug-and-play starter in any system due to his diligence on the defensive end and smooth, clean offensive arsenal. Here are the teams that would make the most sense for Burton.
Providence: Burton’s father, Quinton, played at Providence, and the Friars could make some sense for the Uxbridge, Ma. native. Burton was one of the top players in the New England area when he was coming up in the Class of 2019. New Providence coach Kim English made a big splash when he was able to keep Bryce Hopkins and Devin Carter Jr. around for another season. But Burton would be a no-doubt starting 3 who could give Providence a proven three-headed monster.
Indiana: The Hoosiers do not have a veteran shot-maker on the wing. Burton would fix a ton of its (valid) shooting questions in a hurry.
UConn: The defending champs have been pretty quiet in the transfer portal market partially due to the looming stay-or-go decisions that have to be made by both Andre Jackson and Tristen Newton. Of course, UConn has a sparkling recruiting class coming in, too. But Dan Hurley could use a veteran shot-maker with East Coast roots like Burton. The former Richmond star would have an easy scheme fit joining UConn and provide a proven offensive hub the Huskies can center their offense around during the minutes when Donovan Clingan isn’t on the floor.
Iowa: Burton had 18 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in the 2022 NCAA Tournament upset victory over Iowa. Fran McCaffery and his staff are all too familiar with his game. Iowa has some talented wings like Patrick McCaffery and Payton Sandfort on the roster, but the Hawkeyes really haven’t found a Kris Murray replacement. Burton would instantly become the most-proven offensive dynamo on the roster. Putting up buckets in Iowa’s friendly scheme has been an easy way to boost a draft stock in a hurry.
Miami: Jim Larranaga has made Miami a destination in the transfer portal and also for East Coast talent. With Isaiah Wong off to chase his NBA dreams, Miami could be in the market for another bucket-getter. Wooga Poplar, Norchad Omier and Nijel Pack are all big-time pieces, and Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland projects to be a high-impact piece at the 4. But adding another scorer like Burton to that crew would be a no-brainer. Miami would be in position to make another deep run.
Florida: Former Richmond assistant Kevin Hovde joined Todd Golden’s staff before last season. It’d be a familiar face for Burton, but the roster is pretty young. Florida could certainly use Burton, and he’d have a massive role alongside studs like Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, Riley Kugel and Micah Handlogten.
Texas: Geographically, it might be a little tough for a Massachusetts kid to transplant to Texas, but the Longhorns have plenty of opportunity to sell a potential difference-maker like Burton. Texas at least has to make a call to gauge his interest in potentially joining a Big 12 powerhouse. Max Abmas and Tyrese Hunter will man the backcourt. Dylan Disu and Kadin Shedrick have the frontcourt covered up. But Texas has a huge hole at the 3 after Ron Holland asked out of his national letter of intent, and Dillon Mitchell is seemingly all-in on the 2023 NBA Draft. The basketball fit for Burton and Texas makes too much sense. But will everything else line up?
Virginia: Tony Bennett wants to build a championship winner on retention, but a one-year rental like Burton can help Virginia be very competitive right away. Virginia just doesn’t have a guy like Burton on the roster right now. It’d make Reece Beekman’s stay-or-go decision a whole lot easier, too.
Marquette: Shaka Smart built a Big East champion on retention. But Olivier-Maxence Prosper showed out at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine and seems likely to stay in the draft. David Joplin is the internal option to take over the role “O-Max” would vacate, but Burton would fit in with the ethos of Marquette basketball. That offensive fit would be fantastic, and Burton brings it on the defensive end, too. He’d handle the role as the big-wing stopper that Prosper was terrific at last year.
Xavier: Sean Miller’s success with transfers is well documented, and a big shot-maker like Burton would be a nice fill-in for what Colby Jones added to the Xavier mix last season.
Alabama: Alabama thought it solved its big-wing dilemma with Wichita State transfer Jaykwon Walton, but Nate Oats stopped recruiting him after a late-April arrest. Alabama should be heavily involved in the Burton sweepstakes. Playing with guards like Aaron Estrada and potentially Mark Sears should be very attractive. Burton’s length would be a nice mix for an Alabama roster that could feature a bunch of small guards, but his offensive profile of 3s, free throws and layups fits with what Oats prefers.
Wake Forest: You can become a pro at Wake Forest. That’s attractive If Burton prioritizes an elite fit over glitzy, NIL deals, Wake Forest can put him in position to make a ton of money in the future.
Arkansas: Eric Musselman needs a big wing who can, preferably, play some defense and shoot the cover off it. Burton checks off those boxes. Jordan Walsh is expected to stay in the NBA Draft which explains why Arkansas is making a strong run at five-star Ron Holland. If Holland chooses to go pro, Arkansas would have minutes and a significant role for Burton to take over. But like the rest of the SEC schools, it’s a long way from home.
Michigan: Juwan Howard and the admissions department at Michigan aren’t vibing right now after the Caleb Love debacle. But Burton is a big-bodied wing who already graduated and should be able to jump over that academic red tape. He’d have no issues asserting himself as a top offensive weapon alongside point guard Dug McDaniel and big man Tarris Reed Jr.
Kentucky: John Calipari isn’t dumb. He knows that you need veterans to win a National Championship. Kentucky’s roster is young and has so many open spots. CJ Fredrick opted to leave for Cincinnati, so Burton could operate as the veteran shooter Kentucky’s roster doesn’t have right now. He’d be a seamless fit alongside Antonio Reeves and Oscar Tshiebwe. He could also play with Chris Livingston, but he might offer a great insurance policy if the prized Kentucky wing stays in the 2023 NBA Draft. Burton will be productive everywhere, but his most-efficient season came with a pass-first point guard like Jacob Gilyard in 2021-22. Kentucky doesn’t have a guy like that on its roster.
Georgetown: New Hoyas coach Ed Cooley is very familiar with Burton and his family. Georgetown has NIL money to spend and a starring role to sell.
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