​Is DJ Burns playing in TBT? The answer is yes — but not in the way many college basketball fans might assume.
When the JHX roster for The Basketball Tournament surfaced, one name immediately caught the attention of fans: DJ Burns. Because Burns became a household name during North Carolina State’s memorable March Madness run, plenty of people naturally wondered whether the former NC State standout had joined a team made up largely of Kansas Jayhawks alumni.
However, the DJ Burns listed on the JHX roster is not the former NC State forward. It is a different player with the same name.
The DJ Burns playing for JHX in TBT is a 6-foot-7 forward from New Orleans who played college basketball at Southern, Murray State and Youngstown State. While he shares a name with the beloved NC State big man, he has a completely separate basketball background and career path.
That distinction is important because the former NC State DJ Burns became one of the biggest stars of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. His combination of size, footwork, personality and old-school post scoring made him a fan favorite as the Wolfpack made a surprise run to the Final Four. Burns’ performances against high-profile competition helped turn him into one of the most recognizable players in college basketball.
Because of that national attention, it was easy for fans to see “DJ Burns” on a TBT roster and assume it was the NC State legend. In this case, though, the JHX player is not the same DJ Burns who starred in Raleigh.
According to KUSports.com, the JHX version of DJ Burns has been playing professionally with the Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Through eight appearances, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Before beginning his pro career, Burns spent five seasons in college basketball and finished his career at Youngstown State, where he became a productive and reliable frontcourt player.
During his final college season with the Penguins, Burns averaged 13.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. He also started all 98 games across his final three college seasons, showing consistency, durability and rebounding ability. Those numbers helped him earn an opportunity beyond college basketball and eventually land on the TBT radar.
JHX is a team primarily associated with former Kansas players, which makes the presence of a non-Kansas alumnus stand out. The Basketball Tournament often features alumni-based teams, but rosters can include players from outside the core school connection. Teams frequently add extra size, guard depth, shooting or professional experience to round out their lineups, and this DJ Burns appears to fit that type of role for JHX.
Even so, Burns may not be expected to carry a major workload for JHX. With several former Kansas stars on the roster, playing time could be limited depending on matchups, rotations and team needs. His rebounding and frontcourt presence may still be useful, especially in a single-elimination tournament where physicality and depth can make a major difference.
As for the former NC State DJ Burns, he is not currently on the JHX roster. That does not mean he has no connection to TBT, though. The former Wolfpack standout has participated in The Basketball Tournament before, including in 2025. Given his popularity and skill set, it would not be surprising to see him appear on a TBT roster again in the future.
For now, the confusion comes down to a shared name. DJ Burns is playing in TBT for JHX, but it is not the March Madness star from NC State. The player on the Kansas-linked JHX roster is the former Southern, Murray State and Youngstown State forward who has been playing professionally in Canada.
So, if you are tuning into The Basketball Tournament hoping to see the NC State legend backing down defenders in the post, JHX is not the team to watch for that. The DJ Burns on JHX is a different player entirely — one with his own college résumé, professional experience and opportunity to contribute in TBT.