Deonte Burton is stealing the spotlight this summer at the Capital City League. With his slam dunks and physical style of play at 6 feet 4 inches and 240 pounds, he doesn’t shy away from contact and is quickly becoming an ISU fan favorite.

Putting on a show every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School, Burton, a redshirt junior wing, isn’t only driving to the hoop for dunks, layups and ally-oops, he’s also hitting the 3-point shot and pulling down rebounds.

In five games, Burton is averaging 33.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and two assists. He’s also shooting 47 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range, averaging 4.2 made 3s per game.

Burton has only fallen short of the 30-point mark once, when he scored 29. His high point total is 43, in his debut. But the Capital City League dons the reputation of having little defense. 

Teams have only fallen short of the 100-point mark seven times in 18 games. 

“I’m my toughest critic because I feel like I’m not playing as well as I need to be,” Burton said.

But Burton is almost averaging a double-double per game, so it may be difficult to see how he isn’t playing up to his standards 

Burton averaged 6.4 points in eight games as a sophomore before transferring mid-season from Marquette. He will have to sit out until Dec. 19 due because of NCAA transfer rules.

He will become eligible when the ISU men’s basketball team participates in the Hy-Vee Big Four Classic against Northern Iowa. He has until then to make sure he’s as good as he needs to be.

ISU fans will continue to soak in the loud dunks at the Capital City League, and then, when that’s all said and done, they will patiently wait for his arrival mid-season.