Burke makes it official: Next stop will be NBA
To the surprise of no one, Michigan all-everything guard Trey Burke he will forgo his final two years at Ann Arbor and make himself eligible for the NBA Draft.
"I've decided to declare for the 2013 NBA Draft," Burke said Sunday at a news conference at Crisler Center. "It's always been a dream for me. I'm fortunate and blessed."
Burke had contemplated turning pro after his freshman year with the Wolverines. At that time he was projected as a second-round pick.
The decision to return paid off for the Ohio native and for the Wolverines' basketball program.
Burke is now projected as a top-pick 10 pick and the Wolverines played for the national title for the first time in more than 20 years.
While leading Michigan to the national championship game, Burke won almost every player of the year award, including the Naismith and Wooden awards. He won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard and was the Big Ten player of the year.
"Looking back, I could not be happier with my decision to return for my sophomore year at the University of Michigan," Burke told gbmwolverine.com. "As a team, we showed what hard work and sticking together can do when faced with any adversity we had this year. We knew this team had the potential to make it the Final Four, and I'm proud of everything we accomplished this year.
"These guys will always be my brothers, and the memories we've made will stick with me forever."
During his sophomore season, Burke averaged 18.6 points, 6.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game leading Michigan to a 31-8 record in 2012-13, equaling the most wins in school history.
Michigan coach John Beilein praised Burke's leadership and predicted his star will easily make the transition to the NBA.
"Trey's desire to be the best at everything he does has helped Michigan basketball achieve things it hadn't done in 20 years," Beilein said. "I am extremely proud of the young man he's become and believe he is prepared to take the next step in his career.
"His incredible work ethic and effective leadership skills will serve him well in the NBA and during the many opportunities he will have the rest of his life. He is a winner at heart, and I am confident he will continue to have even more success in all of his future endeavors."
For his 73-game career, Burke had 67 double-figure scoring games, including 20 contests with 20 or more points.
