Before big man DJ Burns Jr. captivated America, he made a name for himself growing up in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
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He played high school basketball at York Preparatory Academy, and his coach, Frank Hamrick reflected on Burns making it to the NCAA's holy grail - the Final Four.
Burns' big but relaxed personality was on display even then.
"We played in a lot of big games. And I would be nervous, and you know, I'm intense," Hamrick said. "And you saw him dancing on the court. That's what he's doing in the locker room."
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Hamrick was as surprised as anyone else by the Wolfpack's amazing postseason run, which includes nine consecutive wins, an ACC championship and now one of four teams with a chance to win a national title.
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"If you told me then that the next time NC State is in the Final Four, a kid that I coached would lead them to the Final Four and beat Duke ... by the way, you know, I'm a Duke fan, but I wasn't last night (and) I hadn't been this whole tournament," Hamrick said.
The coach added that Burns has a fan for life in him.
Burns and the rest of the Wolfpack take on Purdue on Saturday night in the Final Four.