Sports - May 2002

East Lincoln’s Burgess signed to play basketball for Belmont Abbey

By TERRANCE THOMAS, LTN Sports Writer

May 20, 2002 - DENVER — East Lincoln basketball standout Jason Burgess will be playing college ball for nearby Belmont Abbey.

He recently signed a letter-of- intent to a play for the school.

“I’m excited to play after high school,” Burgess said.

“I looked at a lot of schools and there was none like that one. I like the campus. The coaches are really nice, It was close by and it’s a small school. That’s what I was looking for.”

Burgess, who at 6 foot-6 inches tall played center for East, selected Belmont Abbey over area schools including Gardner-Webb, Davidson and Lenoir-Rhyne.

His parents are pleased and will be behind him as he makes this big step in life.

“We’re real proud of him,” said his father Darrell Burgess. “We had hoped that he could get a scholarship worked out.”

“We’ll be there for the games,” said Barbara Crouse. “We’ll support him. We like the close proximity of the school. We’re happy with the decision he made.”

East Lincoln basketball coach Neil Hodges had only good things to say about Burgess.

“I’m very excited for him and his family,” Hodges said. “His best basketball is ahead of him. He can spend year round working on his skills. I think he’ll be a nice player for Belmont Abbey.

“(While at East Lincoln), he showed up on time, and did what he was supposed to do and was asked to do. This will pay off for him.”

Belmont Abbey coach Frank Lowery, who attended east Lincoln, recruited Burgess. He saw a lot of good things in him.

“He’s a local kid,” Lowery said. “He plays hard. That’s one thing you can’t coach. We can teach him basic fundamentals and polish up his skills. But you can’t teach heart. He’s consistent in his efforts, Those are the kind of kids we try to build our program with.”

“He’s a big-bodied kid. He’s 6-6 and he’s going to grow some more.”

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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