Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders dominate Michigan in Bahamas

Former Texas Tech player Nimari Burnett makes no impact

If you heard the name “Nimari Burnett” on Friday and it rang a bell then you likely remember that he was once a huge deal for Texas Tech fans.  In fact, when he signed with Tech in 2020, he was the highest-ranked player to ever come to Lubbock (a distinction he still holds).

If you don’t remember him, though, it’s ok.  That’s because he didn’t last but 12 games at Tech before leaving the program.  In that time, he averaged only 5.3 points and 17.3 minutes per game.

After that year, he would land at Alabama where he would miss all of 2021-22 with an injury and then average 5.6 points per game in 27 appearances last season.  Now he’s at Michigan where he’s a starter.

Thus far, he’s started all seven games for Howard and averaged 10.8 points per game.  That includes a 21-point game against St. John’s two weeks ago and a 16-point game against Memphis in the Bahamas.

Against Tech, though, he was just 1-10 from the floor in 26 minutes.  Finishing the day with two points, five rebounds, and an assist, he was hard to notice.

His tale is a reminder that even the highest-rated recruits often flame out, if not completely, then at their first school. Burnett was a five-star signee according to some recruiting services and a McDonald’s All-American but that billing hasn’t led to stardom at the collegiate level.

He’s proven to be a decent piece for Michigan thus far and he might have a good season at his third school.  However, Texas Tech fans likely weren’t impressed with what they saw from him on Friday as he was a non-factor in a loss to his former school.