Plan
B works well for Burka
By John
Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor
He
joins Rock hoops team after football fizzles
SLIPPERY
ROCK— Jade Burka stood at the foul line, in full uniform, flipping one free
throw after another toward the basket.
The game had ended 30 minutes earlier.
That didn't matter to the
Practice makes perfect — or, better still helps eliminate imperfection. Burka
was 1-of-6 at the line in SRU's 62-58 season-opening loss to Mercyhurst Tuesday
night.
"One of 6 — that's not me,"the 6-foot-6 power forward said. "I
can't accept that. I mean, I'm gonna miss some free throws, but not like
that."
Basketball wasn't a part of Burka's life for two years, as he opted to play
football and major in public relations at The Rock upon graduating from
Come October of that season, a knee injury required surgery and ended Burka's
campaign.
"I came back this year and they moved me to offensive guard. And I didn't
make it,"Burka said, his name not appearing on the team's final 85-man
roster.
"He's a great athlete and a great kid,"SRUoffensive coordinator Vic
Campagna said. "Our numbers and his lack of experience caught up to Jade.
We had a lot of veteran players coming back."
Once Burka was off the football team, Rock basketball coach Jamal Palmer went
to work trying to get him on the basketball team.
Burka averaged 12.5 points and 11 rebounds his senior year at
"We recruited him out of high school,"Palmer said. "When he
disappeared from the football roster, I thought he had left school, transferred
or something.
"I saw him driving by on campus one day and had my assistant coach track
him down. I had a roster spot open and wanted Jade to fill it."
So now Burka's on the basketball team, but he's not in basketball shape. Still,
he averaged 7.5 points in exhibition games against St. Bonaventure and
Burka cracked The Rock's starting lineup and played 33 minutes on Tuesday.
"I can't believe I'm starting,"Burka said. "Ithought I might be
an end-of-the-bench guy who hopefully got a few minutes in at the end of a game
here and there.
"I'm still not conditioned for basketball. I've spent the past two years
working on my strength for football. Basketball is about speed and running.
It's gonna take some time, but I'll get there.
"I've got four years to play and I can't wait to have an off-season
dedicated to training for basketball," he added.
Palmer doesn't anticipate having to wait long for Burka to shine on the
basketball court.
"It's going to happen quick," the coach
said. "Jade's a tough kid with a great work ethic.
He'll get a little quicker with each game.
"Am I surprised he's starting for us now? I guess I'd say so, but we need
two strong post players down low and he fits the bill."
As for football?
"We'd love to have him come back out and give it a shot,"Campagna
said. "We love his athleticism."
Burka says thanks, but no thanks.
"I gave football a try, but that's over now," he said. "I'm a
basketball player."