LAS VEGAS -- The players on the court -- outside of his younger brother Dave, a rising high school senior at Woodbridge High in Orange County, Calif. -- probably didn't notice Chris Burgess sitting in the Green Valley High stands during Las Vegas Big Time Tournament.
Most of them might not have known who he is or was.
But they could have, easily.
|  | | If his back holds up, Chris Burgess should be a big factor inside for Utah this season. |
Five years ago, Tracy McGrady was the talk of this very tournament after his breakthrough performance. Lamar Odom was in the house, too, creating a similar stir. But the buzz about Burgess was nearly as strong as both McGrady and Odom, with Burgess answering the same questions as those two as to whether or not he would declare for the NBA draft out of high school like McGrady ultimately did.
Yes, Burgess could have been a bust had he declared. But he would have at least been a name to know because he likely would have been drafted.
He still might find his way onto an NBA roster. But whether he's drafted in 2002 is less certain as it was back in 1996. And is future has comes down to another senior season, this one at Utah, after an injury-prone career. Burgess must prove he was worth the wait, and if he does, then he could be the difference between Utah returning to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus.
"I never considered it because I was such a big college basketball fan," said Burgess, who spent his first two seasons at Duke and the next two at Utah -- one sitting out as a transfer and last season as a player.
"I know a lot of these guys are very good, maybe one (season of college) and out, two and out," Burgess said. "I wanted to go to college and I'm glad I'm going for five years. I wish I could play more. Look at the two coaches I played for (Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Utah's Rick Majerus) -- two Hall of Fame coaches." Krzyzewski will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this fall whereas Majerus hasn't been nominated.
Burgess isn't bitter about how things have turned out, but continues to be shocked what has happened in the sport. He spent time with former Duke teammate Shane Battier when he was in Salt Lake City working out with the Memphis Grizzlies at the Rocky Mountain Revue and the two discussed what could have been had they declared early.
"We could have been in the first round out of high school," Burgess said. "I still can't believe that Shane went as low as No. 6. It's disrespectful to college basketball. It's amazing how things have changed."
For Burgess, his career has steadily gone downhill as he battled nagging injuries. He was a part-time starter, but mainly a role player for Duke in two seasons, sometimes playing strong on the offensive backboard and other times disappearing. He played in the 1999 title game loss to Connecticut and then left for Utah, the same time underclassmen teammates Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and William Avery declared for the draft.
His Utah career started strong with a stellar performance in practice. He was getting rave reviews from coach Rick Majerus, but then hurt his back so severely that he had to take nearly seven months off and wound up at a back camp in Southern California. His first season of eligibility at Utah was then marred by a nagging ankle injury. The 6-foot-10, 245-pound Burgess couldn't use his body to his advantage because of the injury last year. He was slow to get to the ball, unable to get by an opponent and limited in contributing 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 21.6 minutes a game.
"The first year at Utah was the best basketball I've ever played," Burgess said. "I didn't appreciate playing until I sat out for a long time. I tried last season to get in shape but I couldn't. Coach (Majerus) has been all over my butt and in my head about getting in shape, and he might not know it, but I understand what he wants. I'm working on my game and staying away from another injury by running twice a day and playing pickup whenever I can in Utah."
Burgess was one of only six players who went on a spring trip to Spain and the Canary Islands. But the Utes are deeper for the upcoming season than just those who made the journey. The only significant losses are guard Kevin Bradley (ineligible) and center Nate Althoff.
Burgess should be back in the middle with a frontline that returns Phil Cullen (9.1 ppg), former McDonald's All-American Britton Johnsen (9.2 ppg) and Cam Koford (5.3 ppg). Newcomers Chris Jackson, Cameron Goettsche and Tim Frost should factor into the rotation. Johnsen could be on the verge of a breakthrough season after struggling at times once he came back from a two-year Mormon Church mission. He was a key reserve in the Utes 1998 national title game run.
"He had a frustrating year," Burgess said of Johnsen. "But he has put some more weight on and he's working harder. I never went on a mission so I don't know what that's like, but I do know what it's like to be away for six or seven months."
The backcourt is set with Travis Spivey at the point, Nick Jacobson at shooting guard, Trace Caton, Jeff Johnsen and newcomers Martin Osimani and Eric Osmundson as reserves. Spivey could be one of the more experienced point guards returning in the West and Jacobson might end up being one of the top shooters.
"But our biggest returnee is coach Majerus," Burgess said.
He might be right.
Majerus took the season off to deal with three emotionally draining issues -- a knee injury, a heart procedure and his ailing mother, who was battling cancer. The spring didn't treat him any better as he suffered a severe cut on his calf in a freak rental car accident in Los Angeles. The injury and the ongoing stress of dealing with his mother forced him to stay home instead of accompany the team to Europe.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried then, because of course I was," Burgess said. "When my back went out like that, I thought about not playing, I can imagine with all he was going through that he thought about not coaching. But he promised us that he would come back. I take his word for it. He turned down the Cavs, Blazers and Wisconsin jobs. A lot of guys thought he would take that one (Wisconsin). I just need him around for one more year at Utah."
Majerus caused some concern among the players when he missed out on the first week of the recruiting evaluation period in early July to be with his mother again. But she was doing better by the middle of the month and last week Majerus was out on the road recruiting for the first time this summer, taking his seat with every other coach at Green Valley High.
Majerus was in good spirits, anxious to recruit and coach the Utes again. He was with his trusted assistant, Dick Hunsaker, who filled in for him last season so well that he earned Mountain West coach of the year honors.
"He did a great job, but we lost a lot of close games and if you look at coach Majerus' history, he usually wins those close games," Burgess said. "We lost by one at Utah State, by two to Weber State, by one at Wyoming. Coach Hunsaker did a great job, but having coach Majerus back will make so much difference."
The Utes finished a respectable 19-12, 10-4 in the MWC but fell in the first round of the NIT to Memphis.
"Seeing coach recruiting players here, even though I'll never play with the guys he signs, shows that he's going to stay at Utah and keep the Utes atop for many years to come," Burgess said. "With him, myself, Britton, Jeff and Spivey, we'll have more leadership next season. Everyone is ready to go."
Especially Burgess. He's got one last ride before he's done with college and tries to enter the draft the traditional route. Sure, it may be much later than anyone thought when he last was in one of the Las Vegas high school gyms. But it's a timetable Burgess will try to make the best of in this final senior season.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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