Greg “Toine” Burksis usually even keel about most things in life.
He’s never been pompous and he doesn’t like to brag about his past accomplishments in basketball.
However, next month will be a memorable one for the 1998 Flint Northern graduate.
Burks will enter The Prairie View A&M Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 4.
The ceremony will be held in Prairie View, Texas, at the Willie A. Tempton Memorial Student Ballroom beginning at 11 a.m.
The 30-year-old alumnus is eager to return to his college alma mater for such a prestigious award.
“It’s a tremendous honor, and it’s something that I didn’t set out to achieve when I got to college,” said Burks. “I just wanted to go there and play the game the right way and I just felt I always had something to prove as far as basketball was concerned.”
He will be enshrined alongside eight others in the hall’s 18th class. Burks starred for the Panthers from 1998-2003 in men’s basketball.
For his career, Burks averaged 17.1 points, 4.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 117 games. He was twice named to the First Team All-SWAC squad and he led his group to a conference title in 2003.
After college, Burks played professionally in Germany for seven seasons. In February 2011, he officially retired from the sport.
He is currently Flint Southwestern’s boys varsity basketball assistant coach. This is his first season serving in that role.
The Knights are 4-9 overall.
“He’s been truly instrumental in helping us both offensively and defensively, and also as far as practices, he makes sure the guys are here and where they’re supposed to be,” Southwestern head coach Nathaniel Perry said. “I think it’s very easy for him to garner the kids’ respect on this team, because I try to make sure they know about his accomplishments.”
Southwestern’s sophomore point guard Malik Young may be benefiting from Burks’ direction more than anyone else.
He takes full advantage of having a former professional basketball player — who played the same position — to learn from on a daily basis. Read Full Article
