RECRUITING: Arbor View’s Burks chooses Gauchos

Justin Burks has known for some time where he was going to play college basketball. He made it official on Sunday.

Burks, a 6-foot-5½-inch small forward at Arbor View High, orally committed to UC Santa Barbara during his official visit to the school.

His commitment is nonbinding, and the first day Burks can sign a national letter of intent is Nov. 13. UC Santa Barbara’s coaches cannot comment until that time.

“It felt like the right fit. I decided on that before I came out here,” Burks said on Monday.

“I felt like I was the most comfortable with them and I wanted to get it out of the way early so I didn’t have to stress during my senior year. I knew where I wanted to be already.”

Burks was a second-team all-state pick as a junior after averaging 21.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game and helping the Aggies win their first Northwest League title.

Burks chose the Gauchos over scholarship offers from Cal State Bakersfield and Southern Utah. He was also drawing interest from Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount, Oklahoma, San Jose State and Tulsa.

Burks made an unofficial visit to UC Santa Barbara during the spring and said he developed a strong relationship with Gauchos coach Bob Williams and his staff.

“I knew I was one of the players they wanted,” Burks said.

Burks, a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, said he needs to continue to work on his ballhandling skills, but he showed off his improved outside shot during the spring and summer with the Las Vegas Prospects 17U team despite missing time with a torn thumb ligament.

“I think I played well throughout the summer,” Burks said. “I shot the ball pretty well.”