Burke joins Benson’s bunch for 2013

Carson-Newman head men’s basketball coach Chuck Benson has inked a 6-8, 215-pound post player for the Eagles’ 2013-14 campaign.

Reid Burke joins Carson-Newman after transferring from Volunteer State Community College.

“We think he adds to what has already been established in terms of our unity and chemistry,” Benson said. “We didn’t want to add someone who would take away from what we have going.  But he’s more than willing to come in and accept a role to help us as a group.”

Burke joins signees C.J. Bussey and Sawyer Williams as members of C-N’s 2013 signing class.

The Nashville, Tenn.-native averaged 6.3 points on 49.2 percent shooting last season for VSCC.  He buried 35.6 percent of his threes and snagged nearly three boards per game as a part of a 15-man rotation for VSCC.

He had a career high 15 points in a road win over Chattanooga State Community College on six-of-nine shooting. He cracked double figures on five occasions and was never held scoreless.  He had a career best seven boards against Paducah.

“He can shoot the ball from anywhere and has a good basketball IQ,” Benson said. “He’s got really good hands and can create deflections out of our zone and our press package.  He just fits what we’re doing here.”

Burke will have two years of eligibility remaining.

He is the son of Brian Burke.  His uncle David Costello played baseball at Lipscomb University.  Burke was homeschooled through high school.  He is majoring in business at C-N.