Iowa State’s Burton working on shot, defense

WEST DES MOINES - Fast steps, speedy cuts and vicious dunks have all been a big part of the game for Deonte Burton.

The rim-shaking dunks are what Burton is known for, and he hasn't disappointed in his short run during the YMCA Cap City League. But the redshirt junior transfer wants to do more.

One thing was on his to-do list when he arrived in Ames after the first semester and it has carried him through the Iowa State coaching change into summer workouts.

'My shot. You see, I shoot a lot of 3s,” Burton said. 'I've just been trying to work on my shot a lot more.

'I'm just getting a lot of reps and repping my shot out and ball handling.”

There's no doubt Burton can score. He poured in 49 points and was 21-for-43 from the field on Wednesday.

Being as versatile as he can is the primary objective.

The long ball still is a work in progress - he was 3-for-10 on Wednesday - but Burton has been working with ISU graduate assistants in the Sukup Basketball Complex throughout the offseason. Burton's time in the gym varies day-to-day, but his teammates notice how much he's getting shots up.

'I see him working a lot more so far,” said Jameel McKay, a fellow Marquette transfer. 'Progress may not happen right away, but I see him working on it every day. He gets up extra shots and that's the best thing about him, he's starting to work. That's going to start paying off eventually.”

As for the position he'll play when he becomes eligible in December, Burton still is a bit in the dark. His bulky frame at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds has him slotted somewhere between a post and guard, but Burton said he has worked with guards mostly this summer.

While at Marquette, Burton said he even played center on occasion.

One catalyst for his willingness to adapt to different roles has been the message Iowa State Coach Steve Prohm has given since arriving in Ames a month ago.

'We're just trying not to be complacent,” Burton said. 'Every day is a new day and you have to win the day. That's our team slogan so we're trying to take every day as a game. Did we win or lose the day?”

Most of the ISU summer workouts have centered on defense under Prohm. According to the NCAA, the Cyclones possessed the 14th-best scoring offense last season (77.8 points per game), but had the 246th-best scoring defense (69 points per game).

Burton knows his physical stature and ability can make a difference on defense, just like he intends to do on offense. Prohm, again, has been the driving force behind the defense intensive workouts.

'He's working on defense because every coach plays defense a little differently,” Burton said. 'He's just trying to get us acclimated to how he plays defense and his defensive schemes.”

l Comments: montzdylan@gmail.com