Utah basketball lands Horizona League DPOY PG transfer TJ Burch
Apr 19, 2026, 9:29 AM
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 20: TJ Burch #22 of the Wright State Raiders dribbles the ball while being guarded by Malik Thomas #1 of the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah men’s basketball continued to build out its backcourt through the transfer portal, landing Wright State combo guard TJ Burch — the fourth addition of the offseason for head coach Alex Jensen.
Burch drew significant interest in the transfer portal, hearing from programs across multiple levels. His recruitment included schools like St. Johns, Kansas State, SMU, Grand Canyon, George Mason, and USC, while he also explored opportunities with Maryland, BYU, and Providence as the process unfolded.
With Burch joining a transfer class that already includes Jackson Holcombe, Taison Chatman, and Malek Gomma, Utah’s roster construction is taking shape with clear roles and complementary pieces.
This is a valuable win for the Utes in their roster makeover this offseason. It continues a point of emphasis on the defensive end of the floor, while adding a player who projects on an upward trajectory.
Utah continues its run with another transfer addition in Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, @Thatstj__
Burch had significant interest but Utah was able to land its fourth transfer of the cycle. pic.twitter.com/2tuD9BzM72
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) April 19, 2026
A productive two-way guard from Wright State
Burch arrives after a breakout sophomore season at Wright State, where he averaged 12.3 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 46% from the field.
But the real value shows up on the defensive end. Burch averaged roughly 2.5 steals per game, ranking among national leaders and earning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year honors — a reflection of his ability to disrupt games on that end.
That two-way impact made him one of the more intriguing mid-major guards in the portal. At 6-foot-1, Burch profiles as a combo guard — someone who can handle the ball, create for himself and others, and defend at a high level.
Burch isn’t a high-usage, ball-dominant guard. Instead, he thrives in the gaps — creating turnovers, pushing pace, and making quick decisions.
That’s the kind of skill set that tends to translate.
Why the fit makes sense at Utah
This is where the addition becomes more interesting — and more defined statistically. In the Big 12, perimeter defense and turnover creation matter quite a bit, and that’s what Burch adds.
Utah’s transfer class now has clear structure:
- Burch: defensive pressure, playmaking
- Malek Gomma: interior physicality, rebounding
- Taison Chatman: floor spacing and shot-making
- Jackson Holcombe: versatility and secondary creation
Burch’s impact shows up in the numbers. He averaged 3.5 assists per game with a ~28% usage rate, showing he can handle primary and/or secondary creation without dominating the ball. At the same time, he averaged 2.6 steals per game, ranking among the national leaders and finishing top five in Division I in total steals. That’s game-changing defensive production.
Burch fills a critical role as a low-usage, high-impact guard who creates extra possessions, speeds teams up defensively, and keeps the offense moving when the ball swings his way.
The Bottom Line
The jump to the Big 12 will test TJ Burch — especially physically — but his defensive profile gives him a real pathway to playing time. Guards who can pressure the ball, generate turnovers, and disrupt rhythm tend to find minutes in this league, and Burch already checks those boxes at a high level.
He averaged around 2.6 steals per game, ranking among the national leaders and even sitting top-five in Division I at one point during the season.
More importantly, Burch has already shown he doesn’t need the ball to influence games. He can create extra possessions defensively, keep the offense moving, and fit within a structured system without forcing shots. That’s exactly the type of role player that translates upward in competition.
Burch brings defensive intensity, turnover creation, and backcourt depth to a roster that’s starting to take shape. Alongside Jackson Holcombe, Taison Chatman, and Malek Gomma he helps round out a group that now has balance — not just offensively, but on both ends of the floor.
