Seems like DJ Burns Jr. only returned to the NC State Wolfpack to bring them the glory they very much deserved. After a delightful regular season and a conference win, Kevin Keatts’ squad is on its way to taking down Zach Edey’s No.1 seeded Purdue in the Final Four. The fifth-year forward’s performance was great against their ACC rivals Duke in the Elite 8 round, as he dominated the No.4 seeded Blue Devils.

The most attractive part was when he just hopped through the floor and enjoyed every moment of the event. Is that a flashback to how he was raised? Let us learn more about his family and journey to the 2024 March Madness.

From being a multi-instrumentalist to a baller

DJ Burns Jr. was born on October 13, 2000, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. His father, Dwight Sr. is an agent in charge of York County for South Carolina. He manages probation, paroles, and pardon services in the role. Burns’ mother, Takela, is an assistant principal at the Dutchman Creek Middle School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The family of four also includes a young daughter Nadia Burns, DJ’s sister.

The 23-year-old has attracted fans this year due to his playing style. While he is bullish on the court, he can always be seen smiling. And that’s one thing that has stuck with him since childhood. “He just has joy,” his mom, Takela Burns, told WCNC Charlotte at the beginning of March Madness. “And I think that’s what fans love about him.” His father also pointed out how he was as a kid.

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“Sports was everything to him all his life,” Dwight said. “I mean, at the dinner table, he’s dunking on your head. D.J. was always a kid that was very energetic.” But that same energy proved to be annoying for Burns’ sister. “As a sibling, it was more annoyance for me. But, yes, he loves basketball,” Nadia said in the same interview.

Apart from being a phenomenal hooper, Burns is also a multi-instrumentalist. The 6’9″ Beast Boy can play stand-up bass, tuba, piano, and saxophone. However, basketball has always been his primary interest. The then-6’8″ as an eighth grader in the York Preparatory Academy made quite an impact as a high schooler. In fact, his 1000+ points and 1000+ rebounds grabbed him the MVP honors of the C. Dan Joyner Poinsettia Classic. He was also the USA National Prep Championship.

After his three seasons with the Patriots, he committed to the Volunteers over South Carolina and Virginia. And the rest is history as Burns brought Tennessee to Sweet 16 as a red shirt freshman. After playing three seasons with the Winthrop Eagles, Burns Jr. made a move that changed his college basketball experience, and for good.

DJ Burns Jr. and the Wolfpack

The No. 30 on the NC State roster couldn’t make much of a difference to the team initially. Nevertheless, he averaged 12.5 points and 4.8 rebounds. However, improving his stats in his final year of eligibility, Burns has made 20% shots from beyond the arc this year. He averages 12.6 points with 52.7% shots from the field. While he led the Wolfpack to the ACC conference championship, winning against 5 former champions, including Duke, to enter the March Madness, what is impressive is his numbers in the post-season.

Within the last 4 post-season games, the Big 30 has averaged 18.25 points with 64.25% shots from the field in 28.5 minutes on the floor. He has also displayed his significance on both offense and defense by contributing 5 boards and 3.5 assists. In his Elite 8 matchup against the Blue Devils, Burns recorded a season-high 29 points with 13 of 19 shooting in 29 minutes.

Clearly, NC State is all prepped up for a huge dance-off on the floor in the 2024 Big Dance. They will take their 26-14 win-loss record to Glendale, Arizona, to lock horns against the desert’s 1st-seed Purdue on Sunday. Do you think they can reign over Zach Edey with DJ Burns Jr.?

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