Justin Burrell, who won MVP honors in his only year in Japanese League, continues stellar pro career in France, as former St. John's star signed there last week. (Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal)
Halfway across the world, the influence of St. John's basketball is still being felt stronger than ever.
After a four-year career that included an NCAA Tournament appearance and a Big East Sixth Man of the Year award, former Red Storm forward Justin Burrell is once again making headlines. The Bronx native, who last year played in Japan, is now headed to France after signing with Champagne Chalons Reims Basket, a club in the second division of the French league.
Burrell's lone year in Japan was a huge success, winning the Most Valuable Player award in the Japanese B-League after averaging nearly nineteen points and ten rebounds per contest for Yokohama. Burrell becomes the second Red Storm player to take his talents to Franc this year, joining former teammate Anthony Mason Jr., who is playing in France's first division. Fellow former running mate Dwight Hardy will once again be running the ball screen in Italy, this time for Sigudas Avellino in Serie A after a stellar rookie season with the Liga Due club Pistoia Basket.
Even with his new European team, Burrell is still optimistic that he will eventually land in the NBA. "Moving forward, I'm going to try to do the same thing I did in Japan," Burrell said. "Dominate and be (the) MVP, that's the goal."
Red Storm fans nationwide share a similar mindset, as Burrell looks to join D.J. Kennedy, Maurice Harkless, and the artist formerly known as Ron Artest as St. John's alumni playing at professional basketball's highest level.
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