D'Amato: Emotional homecoming for Deonte Burton
Deonte Burton walked into the Iowa State locker room at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, and there it was: the same locker he used when he was at Marquette University. Naturally, he claimed it.
“I said, ‘Hey, this is my locker!’ So I sat here,” Burton said Wednesday. “It’s kind of weird because I’m not playing for Marquette anymore. It definitely feels awkward because I never expected to be in this building and not wearing a Marquette jersey.”
He wears a Cyclones jersey now, No. 30. It’s been quite a journey for the 6-foot-5 senior guard, back in his hometown for Iowa State’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against Nevada at approx. 8:57 p.m. Thursday.
Asked to describe his emotions, Burton said, “Happy. Scared. Anxious, just because Milwaukee hasn’t seen me play since my sophomore year (at Marquette). I’m excited to show them how much I’ve grown. I’m nervous because it’s a really big game and it’s a great atmosphere.”
After making the Big East all-rookie team, Burton played in just eight games for Marquette in 2014-'15 before transferring to Iowa State at the end of the fall semester. He had no problem with the school or with his teammates or coaches. In fact, he wants to return to MU for his master’s degree.
“I love Marquette,” he said. “It’s a great school.”
RELATED: Marquette and South Carolina will feature contrast of styles
CHAT: Matt Velazquez Q&A at 10 a.m. Friday
RELATED: Notable characters from March Madness in Milwaukee
RELATED: Bradley Center games offer exciting potential
RELATED: What to know about the teams in Milwaukee
BRACKETS: USA Today Bracket Challenge | Printable bracket (with times/TV)
MORE COVERAGE: NCAA Tournament section
He left because after his mother, Barbara Burton-Malone, lost her five-year battle with breast cancer in October 2014, he needed a change of scenery.
His mom had been his biggest cheerleader and came to games even while undergoing chemotherapy treatments. He’d picked Marquette after starring at Milwaukee Vincent High School because it allowed him to be close to her.
Then she was gone. So, too, was the joy he felt when he stepped onto the Bradley Center court. He thought about quitting the game and eventually came to the conclusion that it would be best for him to start over somewhere else.
“I was in a bad space when it came to basketball after my mother passed,” Burton said. “I didn’t want to play anymore and getting away from the city helped. It was a long process. I just had to heal and accept the fact that my mother died.”
He has flourished at Iowa State and is averaging 14.8 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Cyclones (23-10). He’s one of three Milwaukee-area players on the roster: 6-8 senior forward Darrell Bowie played at Wauwatosa East and 6-2 junior guard Donovan Jackson played at Pius.
They were recruited by former Iowa State assistant T. J. Otzelberger, a Thomas More High School graduate who played at UW-Whitewater and had plenty of city connections. Otzelberger now is the head coach at South Dakota State.
“I think in the past it’s a credit to Coach T.J.,” Bowie said. “I think Milwaukee players, when we get to Iowa State, we see the opportunity to play in one of the best conferences in the Big 12 and we embrace that. Me, Deonte and Donovan, we’re always in the gym working. We tell each other a lot of people from our city don’t get this opportunity, so let’s make the best of it.”
It will be easy to spot Burton on the court Thursday – and Saturday, if the Cyclones win. He’ll be the one wearing the bright pink shoes. He sometimes wears pink socks, too, and has a tattoo of a ribbon, the symbol for breast cancer awareness.
“Anything pink, it’s because of her, to create more awareness just because it’s so prevalent in today’s world,” Burton said. “A lot of people have breast cancer and it’s a tough thing.”
He’ll be dealing with a lot of emotions Thursday. He’ll say a prayer and ask his mother for strength. He’ll try to play within himself, try to stay focused and calm. It would be easy to try to do too much.
“I just want to make a statement with winning,” he said. “Not with scoring or anything. Just winning.”
Nothing would make his mother prouder.
