FIU Athletics

Work ethic helped him become a team force and a leader in the program's resergence...An excellent rebounder who worked hard on his size and strength...Runs the floor extremely well..Left hander with nice post moves.

As a Senior (2004-05): One of the dominant blocked-shot artists in the Sun Belt Conference...finished the year with a team-leading 39 blocks, which ranked fifth all-time for FIU blocked shots in a single season... ended the season fifth in SBC statistics with 1.34 blocks per game...in just two seasons, became the Golden Panthers second all-time leader in career blocked shots with 73...recorded a career high of seven swats during a 74-73 upset overtime victory over Ohio University (12/27)...had another six blocks to go along with 14 rebounds in the season-opening victory over Florida Atlantic (11/19)...tied or led the team in blocks, 14 times...also grabbed 13 rebounds against league foe Arkansas-Little Rock (1/30) and 11 boards at Arkansas State (1/8)...missed his first collegiate career double-double by just a single point (9 points/13 rebounds) in FIU's five-overtime win over UALR (1/30)...made himself into a potent offensive threat. Finished second in the league and established a new school record with a .613 (92-of-150) field goal percentage...scored a career-high 16 points twice, at home against Hofstra (11/21) and on the road at South Florida (12/20)...averaged nine points per game during the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament...ranked fourth on the team in scoring and third in total rebounds (131)...started 19 of the 29 games he played, including the last nine contests of the year...nearly doubled his assist and steal totals from his junior to senior seasons while holding steady on his number of turnovers.

As a Junior (2003-04): Came on as a force in the middle, leading the team in rebounding and blocked shots...only player on the squad to finish with more than 100 rebounds on the year, and his 34 blocked shots tied for the sixth-best season total in the history of the program and the most for any Golden Panther player since the 1990-91 season...recorded a season-high six blocks against South Florida (12/20) in 36 minutes of play and had five in the league game vs. North Texas (1/19)...ranked fourth best in the Sun Belt Conference with 1.26 blocked shots per game...led or tied for the team lead in rebounding 12 times...grabbed a season-best 14 boards at Canisius (1/10)...also had 11 rebounds against No. 11-ranked Stanford (12/15)...averaged five points per game on the year, and an even-better 5.6 ppg versus Sun Belt Conference opponents...scored his season-high 11 points in the win over Sam Houston State (12/27), with a team-high eight points, five rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in the first half...played in all 27 games on the season with 24 starts, tied for most on the team.

Southern Union College (2001-03): Played two seasons for Bison coach Ron Radford, averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots per game as a sophomore...voted the team’s Most Improved Player in 2003...helped the Bison to the 2002 league championship...recruited out of junior college by Ole Miss, UAB, New Mexico State and Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Prep and Personal Data: Did not compete in scholastic sports while attending Anniston High...born February 6, 1982 in Racine, Wisc...son of Willie and Dorothy Burnett...uncle Harvey Knuckles played intercollegiately at the University of Toledo and then professionally in Europe for a number of years...Liberal Arts major.

Burnett’s FIU Career Highs
Points: 16, twice, last at South Florida, 12/20/-4
Rebounds: 14, twice, last vs. Florida Atlantic, 11/19/04
Assists: 2, nine times, last vs. Western Kentucky, 2/26/05
Steals: 2, four times, last vs. Middle Tennessee, 2/28/05
Blocked Shots: 7 vs. Ohio University, 12/28/04
Minutes: 45 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock, 1/30/05
Field Goals: 7 at South Florida, 12/20/04
Field Goal Attempts: 9, twice, last vs. Middle Tennessee, 2/28/05
3-Point FG: none
3-Point FG Attempts: none
Free Throws: 6 vs. Hofstra, 11/21/04
Free Throw Attempts: 12 vs. Hofstra, 11/21/04