With the Transfer Portals' disarray, the Tennessee offseason has had plenty of highs and lows, and now Rick Barnes and the Vols have been hit with some unfortunate news regarding Ethan Burg. This time, it doesn't involve the portal, but it does involve Burg leaving Knoxville.
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Ethan Burg has decided to return home to Israel after playing for the Vols last season. He posted a statement on X thanking Tennessee fans and the coaching staff for all their support. Burg concluded his statement with, “Although I've made the difficult decision to return home to Israel to be closer to my family, I'll always be proud to be a Tennessee Volunteer. This past year has been unforgettable, and I'll cherish the memories I made for the rest of my life.” Last season, he averaged 2.5 points and 1.1 assists per game, shooting 44.3% from the field and 40.3% from three.
Point guard Ethan Burg is heading back home to Israel
This is tough news for the Vols, but it’s completely understandable given everything going on right now. It’s hard to imagine how challenging it must be for Burg, playing thousands of miles away from his family this season. Burg was always a gritty player who worked his tail off last season. Rick Barnes was tough on him, but for good reason, Burg was strong enough to handle it and continued to grow.
In Tennessee's first March Madness game against Miami (OH), he had seven points and an assist in 23 minutes of action with no turnovers, something that kept him off ther court a lot last year.
Moving forward, Troy Henderson will now have the backup point guard spot locked up with Burg gone. It was expected that the two would compete for it, but now that's no longer the case. Dai Dai Ames is expected to be the starter, plus Tennesse is bringing in Chicago native Marquis Clark, a 6-foot-1 point guard.
From Vols fans everywhere, thank you, Ethan, for everything. Wishing you nothing but the best and safe travels back home.
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