Sam Burgess Commits to BYU

PROVO -- BYU men's basketball coach Steve Cleveland today announced he received a national letter of intent from Sam Burgess, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound shooting guard from Snow College (Utah). Burgess will depart on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prior to attending BYU.

Burgess will have four years of eligibility to play three once he returns from his mission to Spokane, Wash. He begins his missionary service next week.

"Sam is an outstanding three-point shooter and a strong defender," Cleveland said. "I love his competitive and confident approach to the game. Sam will be a great asset to our program when he returns from his mission."

A great shooter, Burgess led the Scenic West Athletic Conference in three-point accuracy in 2001-02, making 49 percent (95-192) of his long range attempts while shooting 53 percent overall from the floor. He shot 79 percent from the free throw line. A second-team All-SWAC Region 18 selection as a freshman, Burgess finished seventh in the league in scoring at 17.2 points per game.

Burgess, 19, prepped at Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah, where he was a first-team all-state athlete in three sports. The 2001 Salt Lake Tribune Utah Male Prep Athlete of the Year, Burgess earned all-state honors three times in basketball, including first-team recognition his junior and senior seasons. He led Lone Peak to the state title his senior year, averaging 18 points and four rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the floor.

The Alpine, Utah, native twice earned all-state accolades as a baseball pitcher and outfielder/first baseman while helping the Knights win back-to-back state championships in 2000 and 2001. A first-team all-state selection in football his senior year, Burgess quarterbacked Lone Peak to the Utah 4A quarterfinals and a 9-2 record. He amassed 1,771 total yards with nine rushing and nine passing touchdowns.

Burgess is the fourth men's basketball recruit to sign with BYU this season and the third to commit during the spring signing period, which concluded Wednesday. BYU's three other recruits, Rafael Araujo, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound center at Western Arizona; Kevin Woodberry, a 6-foot, 170-pound point guard from Dixie State College; and Luiz Lemes, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound combo guard from Eastern Oklahoma State College, will join the Cougar program in the fall. Araujo was the first to commit to the Cougars, signing during the early signing period in November.

Recruits Signing with BYU in 2001-2002
Name            Pos.  Ht.   Wt.  Cl.  Hometown (Last School)
Rafael Araujo   F/C   6-11  260  Jr.  Sao Paulo, Brazil (Arizona Western Coll.)
Kevin Woodberry G     6-0   170  Jr.  Phoenix, Ariz. (Dixie State College)
Luiz Lemes      G     6-3   185  Jr.  Sao Paulo, Brazil (Eastern Oklahoma St.)
**Sam Burgess   G     6-3   190  So.  Alpine, Utah (Snow College)
** Will leave on a two-year LDS Church mission prior to attending BYU.