Israeli guard Ethan Burg visited Tennessee basketball from Saturday, June 28 to Monday, June 30 as the Vols continue to pursue perimeter options to add to its 2025-26 roster, multiple sources told RTI this week.
However, the guard is waiting to get his eligibility approved from the NCAA before making a college decision. Burg’s eligibility is currently up in the air due to his multiple seasons playing professional basketball overseas. A number of prospects have been in the same situation and have received eligibility.
The tricky part is that if the NCAA grants Burg eligibility, it could very well be for less than four years due to his multiple years of professional experience.
A 22-year old who turns 23 in September, Burg spent his last two years playing professionally for Bnei Herzeliya in the Ligat Winner League in Israel. It’s the same league that former Tennessee center Kyle Alexander plays in.
During the 2024-25 season, Burg averaged 11.1 points on 45% from the field, 38% from three-point range and 80% from the foul line. Playing in 24 games, the 6-foot-3 guard made 1.6 three pointers per game. He also averaged 3.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game.
More From RTI: Tennessee Basketball Joins Pair Of Blue Bloods In Elite NBA Draft Category
Burg posted similar numbers during the 2023-24 season, averaging 10.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He was less efficient shooting the ball, making 42% of his shots from the field and 29% from three-point range.
Burg is a combo guard who can play both point guard and shooting guard. However, there’s a clearer path to playing time at shooting guard at Tennessee next season.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie is Tennessee’s clear starting point guard entering the 2025-26 season while a handful of players including sophomore Bishop Boswell. Louisiana Tech transfer Amaree Abram, four-star Amari Evans and French prospect Clarence Massamba are all competing for playing time at shooting guard. Freshman Troy Henderson is another combo guard who can play both point guard and shooting guard.
While Tennessee is unproven at shooting guard, there’s an abundance of talent on the rest of the court. Gillespie was an All-Big 10 point guard a season ago at Maryland, five-star freshman Nate Ament projects as a top five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and the Vols have a stable of front court options.
Tennessee projects as a top 25 team again next season and has the potential of a top 10 team if things come together well.
