Joe Burton Leaves Oklahoma State Basketball Team

Sharpshooter Joe Burton has decided to part ways with Oklahoma State and look to play his remaining eligibility elsewhere, he announced on Instagram Monday morning.

“After thinking long and hard my family and I decided it would be best for me to part ways with Oklahoma State,” he wrote. “I just want to thank this program for all the opportunities they have given me, this program has taught me a lot of things and matured me these past two years of college.

“I also want to thank coach Travis Ford and his staff for recruiting me out of high school, it was a true blessing being able to play for you at Oklahoma State and I wish new coach Brad Underwood and his staff nothing but the best this upcoming season. Thank you.”

Burton averaged 5 points, 1.5 rebounds and an assists per game in 13 minutes played per contest last season.

This is obviously an unfortunate part of the college basketball process generally and especially when there’s a new coach involved. But frankly, this might be for the best for all parties. It allows Burton to go somewhere where he can play more and opens up space for what was becoming a pretty crowded roster for Underwood.

This isn’t just about this season either. Underwood is pretty clearly swinging for the fences in recruiting and Burton was probably going to clog that up for the next two years. You can replace the Joe Burtons of the world. Is he an all right player? Sure, but finding a fill-in for him will not be all that difficult. And in the process maybe you can snag a big-time recruit you wouldn’t have been able to chase otherwise because of scholarship limitations.