Evan Burns
A number of years ago, Evan Burns began his career as an ambitious basketball player confidently following in his father’s footsteps.
“My dad introduced me to the game. He is my role model and I look up to him,” Evan Burns said. “He played at the college level and showed me how to play right as well as enhancing my IQ of the game.”
Evan Burns, a 6-foot-1 guard at Kansas City Kansas Community College and 2011 graduate from Bishop Ward High School, anticipates his goals to play out the same as those of his father, Michael Burns, who played for Missouri Western from 1975 to 1978 and is also a graduate of Bishop Ward.
As a student athlete, Burns believes his biggest support in life comes from the encouragement from his family.
“I know my mom and dad truly love and care. They are always there to give me advice as well as being able to rely on my siblings to give me advice,” Burns said.
Beginning the game at such a young age, Burns found that it was not only what he could prove on the court, but what he could also find within himself between his determination and confidence, as well as playing with heart.
“I truly believe I’ve been taught life lessons from the game so far,” Burns said. “This game has shown me who I want to be someday and what you can take not only physically, but mentally from the game. This is much more than a game itself, you attain self-esteem, confidence and discipline.”
Coaches, current and past, believe that Burns has a lot to offer and has made a tremendous impact during his short time on the court.
“Evan has got great work ethic,” Jon Oler, men’s basketball coach at KCKCC, said.
Not only has Burns received considerable acclamations for the work ethic he has shown, but coach Todd Magwire chooses to describe Burns as a “coach’s dream.”
“I’ve been a head coach for 20 years and I’ve never seen a kid like Evan,” Magwire, then basketball coach of Bishop Ward High School, said. “I am extremely proud to see where he has been. He is dedicated to get better and dedicated to improve and will do anything to make a team better. Every time he steps on the court it is with a positive attitude and he gives 100 percent.”
Burns came to KCKCC with high hopes of bettering himself as well as his game. During his first season in 2011, Burns was red-shirted as a freshman, which he believes was “the best thing” for him.
“I definitely needed a red-shirt year,” Burns said. “I stepped into college and I felt as though I was a grade down in skill and weight and the game was at a quicker pace than I ever imagined it to be.”
The 2012-2013 season, Burns has shown to hold his own. Progressively gaining more time on the court, as well as pushing through an ankle injury during the beginning of the season as well as a knee injury during mid-season, Burns shoots 33 percent from the field.