BleedGopher
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I would imagine that once Willie finishes his degree at the U that he'll get strong consideration for us raising his jersey to the rafters.
From GopherSports:
The University of Minnesota "M" Club and the Minnesota Athletic Department honored a group of 10 outstanding individuals with induction into the University of Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame on Thursday evening at the Ted Mann Concert Hall.
The 2010 class of inductees were Decia [Agnew] Stenzel (track and field), Willie Burton (men's basketball), Tim Hartung (wrestling), Gretchen Hegener (women's swimming), Wayne Knapp (baseball), Ed Kernan (men's basketball), Greg Larson (football), George V. Nagobads (men's hockey team physician), Harold Paulsen (men's hockey) and Clark Shaughnessy (football).
The University of Minnesota "M" Club represents all letterwinners from University of Minnesota athletics teams. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor achievements and to preserve the tradition of those athletes, coaches and athletic staff members who have contributed in an outstanding and positive way to the University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics Department.
The criteria for induction to the University of Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame include four different categories: significant accomplishments by a former student-athlete; significant achievements by a former coach or administrator; significant contributions of time, talent or resources to the athletics department by someone other than an athlete, coach or administrator, and significant professional achievement by a former Minnesota student-athlete.
Willie Burton
Men's Basketball, 1986-90
Arguably one of the greatest basketball players to ever attend the University of Minnesota, Willie Burton came to Gold Country as one of Clem Haskins first recruits and left as the second-leading scorer in program history and an NBA Lottery pick.
Burton came to Minnesota in 1986 but before he would leave for the NBA in 1990, he would lead the program to heights it hadn't seen before. Burton was a leader of a Gopher team that made it to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments, including the 1989 Sweet 16 and the 1990 Elite Eight.
Burton was a four-year starter for Coach Haskins and left the university with his name all over the Gopher record books. He finished with 1,800 career points, second all-time, in 118 games for an average of 15.3 points per game, the 16th highest in program history. He is also the school leader in free throws made (426) and attempted (569).
A 6-7 forward at the 'U', Burton led the team in scoring for three straight seasons, including 557 points as a junior (tied for 12th in a season at Minnesota) and 616 points as a senior (fourth all-time). He was a three-time Team MVP (1988-90) and was named Big Ten Honorable Mention as a sophomore (1988), All-Big Ten Second Team as a junior (1989) and All-Big Ten First Team as a senior.
The ninth overall selection of the 1990 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Burton went on to play a combined eight seasons in the NBA with the Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets. He scored over 3,000 career points, including 53 in a game as a 76er against the Miami Heat. Burton finished his career with averages of 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 21.0 minutes per game in 316 career contests.
An All-American nominee by McDonald's, the National High School Association, Nike and Converse as a senior at DePorres High School in Detroit, Mich., as well as a two-time All-State selection, Burton is now back in the Motor City, where he runs Round Ball Development, a company that develops Green homes in the Detroit area. Burton, who is finishing his degree at the University of Minnesota, also runs a life skills program with children around the country.
Burton has four children Natasha, a student at Bowling Green University, Jaron, Noah and Bronson that live in Houston, Texas.
http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=204961290
Go Gophers!!
From GopherSports:
The University of Minnesota "M" Club and the Minnesota Athletic Department honored a group of 10 outstanding individuals with induction into the University of Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame on Thursday evening at the Ted Mann Concert Hall.
The 2010 class of inductees were Decia [Agnew] Stenzel (track and field), Willie Burton (men's basketball), Tim Hartung (wrestling), Gretchen Hegener (women's swimming), Wayne Knapp (baseball), Ed Kernan (men's basketball), Greg Larson (football), George V. Nagobads (men's hockey team physician), Harold Paulsen (men's hockey) and Clark Shaughnessy (football).
The University of Minnesota "M" Club represents all letterwinners from University of Minnesota athletics teams. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor achievements and to preserve the tradition of those athletes, coaches and athletic staff members who have contributed in an outstanding and positive way to the University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics Department.
The criteria for induction to the University of Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame include four different categories: significant accomplishments by a former student-athlete; significant achievements by a former coach or administrator; significant contributions of time, talent or resources to the athletics department by someone other than an athlete, coach or administrator, and significant professional achievement by a former Minnesota student-athlete.
Willie Burton
Men's Basketball, 1986-90
Arguably one of the greatest basketball players to ever attend the University of Minnesota, Willie Burton came to Gold Country as one of Clem Haskins first recruits and left as the second-leading scorer in program history and an NBA Lottery pick.
Burton came to Minnesota in 1986 but before he would leave for the NBA in 1990, he would lead the program to heights it hadn't seen before. Burton was a leader of a Gopher team that made it to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments, including the 1989 Sweet 16 and the 1990 Elite Eight.
Burton was a four-year starter for Coach Haskins and left the university with his name all over the Gopher record books. He finished with 1,800 career points, second all-time, in 118 games for an average of 15.3 points per game, the 16th highest in program history. He is also the school leader in free throws made (426) and attempted (569).
A 6-7 forward at the 'U', Burton led the team in scoring for three straight seasons, including 557 points as a junior (tied for 12th in a season at Minnesota) and 616 points as a senior (fourth all-time). He was a three-time Team MVP (1988-90) and was named Big Ten Honorable Mention as a sophomore (1988), All-Big Ten Second Team as a junior (1989) and All-Big Ten First Team as a senior.
The ninth overall selection of the 1990 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Burton went on to play a combined eight seasons in the NBA with the Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets. He scored over 3,000 career points, including 53 in a game as a 76er against the Miami Heat. Burton finished his career with averages of 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 21.0 minutes per game in 316 career contests.
An All-American nominee by McDonald's, the National High School Association, Nike and Converse as a senior at DePorres High School in Detroit, Mich., as well as a two-time All-State selection, Burton is now back in the Motor City, where he runs Round Ball Development, a company that develops Green homes in the Detroit area. Burton, who is finishing his degree at the University of Minnesota, also runs a life skills program with children around the country.
Burton has four children Natasha, a student at Bowling Green University, Jaron, Noah and Bronson that live in Houston, Texas.
http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=204961290
Go Gophers!!