Skip to main content
Tennessee

Tennessee Basketball announces signing of 'talented combo guard' Ethan Burg

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey07/24/25GrantRamey
Ethan Burg, Tennessee Basketball
Ethan Burg, Tennessee Basketball

Tennessee Basketball on Thursday announced the signing of Israeli guard Ethan Burg, who will have three years of eligibility. Burg announced his commitment to the Vols on social media on Friday afternoon.

“We are excited for Ethan and his family to join Tennessee basketball,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said in a statement. “He is a confident young man who plays with an edge.”

The 22-year-old Burg, listed as a combo guard, spent the last two seasons playing professionally in Israel. Burg was cleared by the NCAA before announcing his commitment, with the expectation that he would have multiple years of eligibility.

Over the last two seasons he averaged 11.0 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 43.2% from the field and 32.9% from the 3-point line while playing for Bnei Herzliya in Israel.

Barnes: Burg is ‘excellent in transition and can really get to the basket’

In 23.2 minutes per game last season, Burg averaged 11.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 44.7% from the floor and 37.6% from the 3-point line over 24 games. 

“Ethan is a talented combo guard with backcourt versatility,” Barnes said, “who is excellent in transition and can really get to the basket off the bounce.

“He also has the ability to shoot the ball. Ethan’s experience playing high-level international basketball should help him make a smooth transition to the SEC.“

Burg is the second international prospect Barnes and his staff have added this offseason. The Vols signed French guard Clarence Massamba in the spring.

Five-star small forward Nate Ament, a consensus top-five player in the class, is the headliner in the 2025 recruiting class, along with four-star guard Amari Evans, four-star center Dewayne Brown and three-star point guard Troy Henderson.

The three NCAA Transfer Portal additions were Maryland point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Vanderbilt power forward Jaylen Carey and Louisiana Tech guard Amaree Abram.

The Vols return just four scholarship players (Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips, JP Estrella and Bishop Boswell) after losing six seniors (Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack, Igor Milicic Jr. and Darlinstone Dubar).

Tennessee’s Transfer Portal Class

Gillespie, a Greeneville, Tenn., native, started all 36 games at Maryland this season, averaging 14.7 points and 4.8 assists in 31.6 minutes per game while shooting 45.3% from the floor and 40.7% from the 3-point line, where he made 87 of 214 attempts. 

Carey, the 6-foot-8, 245-pound sophomore, averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game at Vanderbilt this season. 

Abram, a former top-100 prospect and four-star recruit who made previous stops at Ole Miss and Georgia Tech, averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists at Louisiana Tech last season, shooting 42.2% from the field and 37.3% from the 3-point line.

You may also like