Tennessee Basketball signee Ethan Burg is on his way to join the Vols. Burg is flying to Knoxville Monday to enroll in classes and join the Tennessee basketball team, which will open exhibition play on October 26th against Duke at the Food City Center.
Burg finished playing for the Israeli national team over the weekend ending their run in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
The youngest player on Israel’s 12-man roster, Burg helped his home nation reach the Round of 16 for the first time in a decade. Israel collected three victories in the tournament, all in pool play, and finished in a three-way tie for second place in Group D.
Competing at Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland, for the group stage, Israel opened the tournament Aug. 28 with an 83-71 victory over Iceland. Burg then debuted two days later with two minutes of action in a narrow 66-64 setback versus homestanding Poland.
The next day, Burg played 11 minutes in an upset triumph over France. The 82-69 win marked one of the biggest victories in Israeli basketball history. Burg had five points and two rebounds in the historic decision, finishing 2-of-3 from the floor and 1-of-2 at the line.
Israel’s final win came two days after that, with Burg playing one minute in a 92-89 result against Belgium to clinch a spot in the knockout phase. In the last pool play game, which came on his Sept. 4 birthday, Burg played three minutes in a 106-96 defeat against Luka Dončić-led Slovenia.
Three days after that, in its first knockout round outing since 2015, Israel dropped a hard-fought 84-79 contest to Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Greece at Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia.
The 22-year old Burg will have three years of eligibility at Tennessee. Burg is a combo guard who spent the last two seasons playing professionally in Israel. He was cleared by the NCAA before announcing his Tennessee 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.
“We are excited for Ethan and his family to join Tennessee basketball. He is a confident young man who plays with an edge,” head coach Rick Barnes said when Tennessee announced the signing of Burg. “Ethan is a talented combo guard with backcourt versatility 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.”
Tennessee is coming off back to back trips to the Elite 8. The Vols will play Mercer on November 3rd to officially kickoff the 2025-2026 season.