NBA Draft 2013: 7 Reasons Trey Burke's Stock Is Way Too Low
Michigan sophomore point guard Trey Burke opted to return to school in Ann Arbor this fall.
The move is paying off.
Burke is carrying the Wolverines to elite status with his all-around play and leadership.
As a top candidate for national player of the year awards and helping his team reach a No. 1 ranking this season, Burke has increased his draft stock.
Burke is an incredible talent and his stock should be higher.
Here are seven reasons why Trey Burke's draft stock is way too low.
1. Passing
1 of 7Burke is a pure point guard with a highly touted passing ability that is rarely seen at the point guard position these days.
The versatility of Burke's passing game should really help him raise his draft stock.
Burke knows how to run pick-and-rolls with precision, drive and kick to the open shooter, and find the open man in space.
All of this shows in two key statistics.
Burke is averaging 7.2 assists per game this season and even more remarkably has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.76. That is good enough to be eighth in assists per game and second in assist-to-turnover ratio in the country.
Burke protects the basketball and hits his teammates in rhythm, which is a valuable asset for any offense.
Burke will continue to dish out assists this season and NBA teams should look at his passing performance as an elite skill in this year's draft class.
2. Transition Offense
2 of 7Trey Burke is exceptional at running the fast break.
Whether off of a rebound, steal or outlet pass, Burke pushes the tempo and takes advantage of the offensive rush.
His ability to cruise down the court and make opposing defenses pay for mistakes is something that every NBA team needs.
Burke can score and assist in transition and is extremely effective.
According to Synergy Sports via Dylan Burkhardt of UM Hoops, "the Wolverines score 1.50 points per transition possession when Burke either shoots or assists a teammate, the 7th best figure in NCAA Division I among players with at least 75 transition possessions and assists."
The statistics do not lie.
Burke is one of the best transition offense players in college basketball and that effectiveness will carry over to the NBA.
3. Physicality & Endurance
3 of 7Burke needs to be on the court at almost all times for the Michigan Wolverines.
Even though he is listed at 6'0" and 190 pounds, he is an absolute workhorse.
Burke plays with physical intensity on the offensive side of the ball and consistently hustles on defense.
For Burke, size does not matter.
He is always running the floor, making plays, getting physical with his opponents, and he does it for a lot of minutes in every game.
Since Burke arrived in Ann Arbor he's averaged 36.1 minutes per game as a freshman and 34.0 minutes per game so far this season.
He does not rest, and does not need to.
Burke does not stop, will not stop, and a player like that is a special player for any team to land.
4. Three-Point Shooting
4 of 7Three-point shooting is a key aspect in today's college basketball as well as in the NBA.
While playing in head coach John Beilein's signature offense that includes a lot of three-point shooting, Burke has shown promise.
Burke has struggled in comparison to sharpshooting teammates, guard Nik Stauskas and forward Tim Hardaway Jr. But, Burke is a resilient three-point shooter.
Even though his percentages from three-point land are not great (about 37 percent), Burke is good at knocking down the open threes and creating space to do so. Although he does shoot a lot of threes, 5.0 three-point field goals attempted per game, which could contribute to his low percentage.
Burke has the range and ability to shoot threes and will continue to refine that aspect of his game.
His three-point shooting is by no means a flaw and that should be noted come draft time.
5. Consistency
5 of 7The reason why Burke draws comparisons to Chris Paul as the next big star point guard in the NBA is due to his consistency.
He is one of the most consistent players in all of college basketball.
So far this season, Burke averages 34.0 minutes per game, 18.2 points per game, 48.7 percent field goal percentage, 7.2 assists per game, and 1.4 steals per game.
These are remarkable statistics and show Burke's ability to perform at a high level every night during the long haul of a college basketball season. Burke's consistent college statistics will translate to the next level.
Illinois head coach John Groce told reporters, and seen in Nick Baumgardner's article on Mlive.com, "I saw a stat the other day that the last player in the Big Ten to average 17-plus points and 7-plus assists was Magic Johnson..."
Burke still has to hold up that statistic throughout the rest of the season, and it looks like he will.
For Burke to have his name sit alongside the great Magic Johnson in the Big Ten record books for those season averages is amazing.
The consistency of Burke makes him a very desirable point guard that can reach Chris Paul status in the NBA.
With Burke, NBA teams will know what they get, a consistent guard who plays hard every night and delivers. Those characteristics are hard to come by and are another reason why Trey Burke's stock is way too low.
6. A Leader Who Is Also a Proven Winner
6 of 7Burke is only a sophomore, but the sky is the limit for this young talent.
Leadership at the point guard position is something that is needed by all NBA teams and is also hard to come by.
Despite appearing somewhat quiet, Burke has fiery intensity and great leadership skills.
ESPN.com's Reggie Rankin discusses Burke's leadership qualities:
"Burke has become more vocal with teammates when I watch him in the huddle and after setting up a teammate. He leads more by example now so this is probably the category with the most difference, but his on-court communication has improved and will continue to do so as he matures and grows as a player. Even now, there is no doubt who has the other four players' undivided attention when Burke is running the show for the Wolverines.
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As Rankin says, Burke does lead by example and also has the attention of all of his teammates, whether on the floor or in the huddle.
Remember, Burke is still only a sophomore. His leadership skills are already top-notch, and they will only continue to improve.
On top of Burke's leadership, he is a proven winner dating all the way back to high school.
According to MGoBlue.com, Burke finished his prep career with a record of 97-5, the most wins by an individual player in Northland History and is just one of three players in Columbus City League history to go undefeated in a career (57-0).
So far at Michigan Burke has a career record of 45-11, including a 21-2 start to this season and the best start in school history.
Burke is a proven winner and a great leader.
It all shows in his high school runs and in his time at the University of Michigan.
7. He Could Be the Next Chris Paul
7 of 7Drawing comparisons to Chris Paul, one of the NBA's best players and absolutely one of the most valuable, is quite a big deal for Burke.
Reggie Rankin's article on ESPN.com details all of the ways that Paul and Burke are similar.
Burke has the size and physicality of Paul as well as the talent and leadership.
He has it all.
Burke passes, dominates in transitional offense, has high endurance, shoots threes well, is consistent and is a proven winner with exceptional leadership.
Burke's stock should be a lot higher for these reasons, but either way this Michigan sophomore will make an NBA team very happy in the 2013 NBA Draft.
