March Madness is here and what a ride it has been, especially here in the ACC. But we are down to the Final Four teams, with NC State being the lone ACC team left. The No. 11 seed Wolfpack has put together one magical ride over the last few weeks. From nearly missing out on the Tournament altogether, to winning five games in five days at the ACC Tournament, and now marching through the NCAA Tournament to the Final Four, NC State is putting together one of the most memorable runs in tournament history.
First and foremost, this has been a true team effort. Watching NC State through the last few weeks, one can see that this is a team that is playing with a “nothing to lose†attitude and is having fun out there. The switch has turned from “what could have been†to “why not us,†and everyone has elevated their game to another level.
But looking at two players that we have known over the years, DJ Burns and DJ Horne have been the clear leaders of this team and this wild ride. Both are Phenom Hoops alums that we had an opportunity to watch in high school and are now becoming national stars right in front of our eyes.
Burns has been a memorable personality that one can’t help but love. The big man has been putting on a show with a smile on his face, playing with the true joy of the game. On the season, Burns has been averaging 13ppg but he has elevated his game in the second half of the season.
Read: DJ Burns Jr. playing at a high level for NC State
ACC Tournament Averages: 15.2ppg. 3.4apg, 4.0rpg
NCAA Tournament Averages: 18.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.5apg
Burns has always been a character and throughout our time watching him, Burns has shown he has the talent to be a big-time prospect. We had his to say years ago watching Burns:
“Burns’ game far exceeds his age and experience. For starters, the lefty has great hands and a soft touch. He showed good footwork with his back to the basket and the ability to pass, attack, or shoot from the high post area. Burns’ camp coach Nate Livesay stated, ‘DJ is a terrific young man and a terrific talent. He showed the ability to score with his back to the basket and a nice face-up game with good feet and soft hands. Burns attempted to defend and rebound and showed a great attitude toward the game and toward coaching.’ With normal gains in conditioning and strength, he should track at the highest level and wind up one of the top players, in his class, nationally.â€
Other Articles:
Lefty Giant with A Lot of Game to Love: 6’8 2019 DJ Burns of Georgia Stars 15u
Phenom Hoops Player Profile: 2019 DJ Burns (GA Stars/ York Prep)
DJ Burns transferring to NC State
Now, Burns is leading the Wolfpack to a season to remember and doing so in style.
But he isn’t the only story to look at with this team, as there is another DJ that has one to tell. DJ Horne, a player who used to play right in the backyard of NC State, made his mark here in North Carolina but has worked to get where he is today.
So many players could learn from this young man… It isn’t always how you start, but it is how you finish the race. Horne wasn’t considered one of the top players in his class at the time in North Carolina. Many didn’t talk about him but we certainly remember watching this young man in action at Leesville Road. At the time, it was the guard duo of Jalen Benjamin and DJ Horne, where Horne showed promise and could have been considered an “under-the-radar†type prospect. He eventually worked his way to an opportunity at Illinois State, but the work didn’t stop there. Horne was able to continue his strong play and get an opportunity at Arizona State. He followed that up with an opportunity to come home and play this season for NC State, the school that was right in his backyard.
Sophomore DJ Horne stepping up at Illinois State
The Hard Work Paying Off for Arizona State DJ Horne
In his final opportunity to play in front of his hometown fans, Horne has exceeded expectations and made his mark in the hearts of NC State fans. He has been off the charts averaging 16.8 points per game, which included a 29-point performance to seal an NCAA Tournament berth for the Wolfpack (29 points vs. North Carolina in ACC Championship). And he has only continued his strong play throughout the tournament, averaging 16.5 points per game.
Again, this is a young man who has been putting in the work year after year, exceeding expectations that have been put in front of him and proving all doubters wrong. From his time in high school at Leesville Road to now heading to Arizona for the Final Four, Horne has created a story many should take to heart and remember.
Now, both DJ Burns and DJ Horne, two local prospects who have two interesting backgrounds and have put in the work over the years, are leading NC State to its first trip to the Final Four since 1983. And they have clearly stolen the hearts of their fans and America.