Texas Tech basketball: What to expect from new transfer Jamarius Burton
How he complements the roster
Burton is a much more physical guard than any Tech had on this year’s team. He almost plays as if he is seeking out contact when taking the ball off the bounce. That should serve him well in the Big 12 where officials often allow defense to be played in a manner resembling a prison riot.
We’ve talked all offseason about the need to bring in a point guard that is more than comfortable making plays with the dribble, especially in the game’s most critical junctures. Burton’s physicality could allow him to be that player for Tech. As we saw in the season that just ended, games are rugged in the final two minutes and this program has to have a point guard strong enough mentally and physically to run the show when the game is on the line.
Right now, Tech has three guards in Moretti, Edwards, and Ramsey who all function better as shooters than as creators. We saw this year that none of them are especially reliable when trying to get tough baskets in crunch time when the defensive intensity is at its highest.
Burton’s game would seem to translate more naturally to those instances. What’s more, he’s more capable of hitting shots off the dribble or when left open from deep than players like Kevin McCullar or Terrence Shannon Jr.
Now, the Red Raiders are set to bring 5-star combo guard Nimari Burnett into the mix next season. The program’s highest-ever ranked signee and the first McDonald’s All-American to come to Lubbock is expected to be the type of player that can also create off the dribble.
Whether or not Burton and Burnett will ever be on the floor together is unknown. There’s a chance that Burton will sit out this upcoming season and many think that Burnett is a likely one-and-done talent.
However, Tech seems to be in great shape regardless of how that plays out. If Burton plays in 2020-21, Tech will have two players capable of breaking down defenses with penetration and Burnett could transition to more of a wing role. But if Burton has to redshirt, he would then slide into the role of the point guard in 2021-22 should Burnett head to the NBA. Either way, it seems like the point guard position is going to be in better shape for the next two years thanks to the addition of this talented transfer.