Deonte Burton believes the city of Milwaukee could use a change or two.
As such, he is hoping his decision today to accept a scholarship offer from Marquette University coach Buzz Williams will positively impact the lives of youngsters in Milwaukee over the next several years.
“Marquette is in Milwaukee and Milwaukee is home for me,” said Burton, an ultra athletic 6-foot-4, 236-pound junior wing player who attended Vincent High School as a freshman before moving on to prestigious Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.
“Milwaukee also needs a change in the sense of having somebody to look up to. Being from Milwaukee and playing at Marquette, I hope I can be that kind of person for the young players in the city.”
A consensus top 50 prospect in the class of 2013, Burton took an unofficial visit to Marquette on Wednesday. He gave Williams his verbal commitment to play at the Big East Conference school today.
“My unofficial visit to Marquette went really well,” said Burton, who is ranked No. 36 by ESPN, No. 44 by Scout.com and No. 45 by Rivals.com in the class of 2013. “It felt like family. Everybody was on the same page, and Marquette competes in the best conference in the United States.
“Buzz is an excellent coach and he’s going to tell you the way it is. I really like that about him because it will help me to reach my full potential.”
Burton turned in a very solid spring and summer while competing for the Terry Porter Elite travel-team program coached by Bryan Johnikin.
A physically mature player who can attack the glass off the dribble, Burton has worked hard to improve his perimeter skills and has made impressive progress in that area.
“Coach Buzz said I will likely play at both the small forward and shooting guard positions at Marquette,” Burton said.
Burton averaged 12.3 points per game as a freshman at Vincent for coach John Allen and helped the Vikings to a 15-7 record.
He spent last season at Brewster Academy and will return to the school next week for his junior season. Among Burton’s talented teammates at Brewster will be top-ranked seniors Mitch McGary (6-10), T.J. Warren (6-7) and Semaj Christon (6-2).
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