Tide, Tigers, Blazers pursuing St. Jude's versatile Tommy Burton (video)

Tommy Burton

St. Jude's Tommy Burton is beginning to see his recruitment take off. (File)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Tommy Burton is a rare find.

At 6-foot-8, 210 pounds, the St. Jude junior appears to be versatile enough to play guard or forward at the next level -- and several college programs are beginning to take notice.

UAB was the first school to extend a scholarship Burton's way. Since then, Witchita State, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia and Western Kentucky have come aboard.

Burton has visited every school but Witchita State, which is currently second in the Associated Press men's basketball rankings.

"I was talking to [Alabama head coach Anthony] Grant and he told me, the way he's looking at me, I could be a mismatch in anybody's system," Burton told AL.com after his team's Class 1A semifinal win over Sacred Heart on Tuesday.

"I'm quick enough to play the post and I'm big enough and versatile enough to play the guard. Whatever college I go to, my first year I could get minutes either as a guard or a big man."

Burton doesn't have a current leader and expects to make his college commitment in the fall, the beginning of his senior season.

He is averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for the Pirates (23-5) who will look to defend their Class 1A state championship Friday morning at the BJCC in Birmingham.

"Tommy is a talented young man," said St. Jude head coach Earl Taylor. "Tommy can dribble the basketball, he can push the ball the length of the floor and he can play inside. A lot of times Tommy will pull up for a three, when of course in my scheme of things I want him inside.

"His future's bright. He's going to get bigger and he's going to get stronger. The more he applies himself, the better he's going to get."

Burton is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals. Check out his and Taylor's full interviews with AL.com in the video above.

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