When we last spoke with Jacob Burtschi, Air Force had emerged as a leader, and New Mexico had dropped out of the recruiting race. After fielding early interest from Wyoming, Tulsa, Harvard, Oral Roberts, Jacksonville and Emory, the 6-foot-7 and 195-pound forward from Putnam City High School (Oklahoma City, OK) decided he will attend Air Force Academy this fall.

Before deciding on Air Force, Burtschi began to receive interest from several schools. “I was also supposed to take visits to Boston University, Montana State, Bucknell University, Colgate University, and possibly Holy Cross,” he explained. The interest peaked during a stellar senior campaign, in which Burtschi averaged 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Air Force appealed to Burtschi for several reasons, including “one of the best educations that any college could offer and a chance to play D-1 basketball”. He is also thinking ahead to his future. “After I graduate and do my years of service, I am set for life,” Burtschi described. “(It’s) everything I could ask for.”

Burtschi helped lead his talented team to a 25-3 record last season and one win away from the state championship, which they won the previous year. Two of Putnam City’s three losses came by only two points. Burtschi will look to parlay that success into a thriving career at Air Force.

NOTES:

- Putnam City High School guard Matt Gibson has signed to play basketball at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. TRCC is coached by Gene Bess, the 2002-2003 Region 16 “Coach of the Year”. Bess led the Raiders to a 30-6 record and a Region 16 championship last season. Gibson led Putnam City in scoring with 20.7 points per game, while also averaging 3.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals. He shot 47.2 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.9 percent at the free throw line.

Chris Harmon covers University of Tulsa athletics for Tulsa SportsWeb in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is also the Editor of the Hurricane Alert newsletter and contributes as a Recruiting Analyst to Sooner State Recruiting. Chris can be reached at Chris@TulsaSportsWeb.com.