Tommy Burleson
Christian Evangelistic Ministries
About Me
Tommy Loren Burleson was born on February 24,
1952 in the small Town of Crossnore, in the
mountains of North Carolina.   Tommy graduated
from Avery County High School in 1970.  In 1974
Tommy joined the Wolf pack Nation as North
Carolina State Universities 7'2" dominating
center.  While at NC State, Tommy received
many honors for his talent in basketball; such as  
All ACC three years in a row, All American two
years in a row, NCAA Eastern Regional MVP,
receiving the Everett Case Award two years in a
row and the John Speaks Award for NC State Most
Outstanding Senior Award. During Tommy's reign
at NC State he helped lead his Wolf pack team to
the 1974 NCAA National Championships.  During
the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Tommy was a
member of the USA Olympic Team.  The USA team
were defeated in a controversial ending by the
Soviet Union.  But Tommy feels the real tragedy
was the loss of the lives of the Israeli athletes to
the Arabic "Black September" group.  Only by
accident did Tommy get caught up in the Israeli
Athletes leaving the Olympic village, only to
meet their tragic death.  "I prayed for their release
as well as my own soul, for I had not accepted
Christ as my true Lord and Savior at that time."  
Tommy has no ill will toward the Russian
Basketball Team, and realizes that one team had
to lose.  "God's grace to me serves as a reminder that
I should have love towards all the National
Athletes, and their respective countries.  Tommy
was also a part of the USA World University Team
in Moscow in 1973, where the USA Team went on to
win the Gold Medal.
After Tommy's college career, he went on to be the
third player chosen in the 1974 NBA Draft.  He was
also the First player chosen in the ABA Draft.  
During Tommy's  rookie year in the NBA  he was
chosen for the NBA Rookie All Star Team in 1974.  
From there, Tommy went on to have a very
successful career in the NBA,  playing for eight
seasons with three teams (Seattle Sonics, Kansas
City Kings and The Atlanta Hawks).
Since his NBA days, Tommy has settled down to a happy life in his
hometown in North Carolina.  Tommy is married and has three boys,
two of which are NC State University Alumni.  Although Tommy's
popularity stems from his talent in basketball, his passion is for
developing his local, national and global missions ministry.  For 23
years Tommy has partnered with the Avery County Parks and
Recreation Department to offer local youth an instructional
basketball Camp.  Former guest of the Tommy Burleson Basketball
Camp include: David Thompson, Bobby Jones, BuckyWaters, Norm
Sloan and many others.  Tommy works to keep his camp available
to local youth by offering his camp for a fee of $40.00 per child as
well as awarding Scholarships when necessary.   For more
information on the Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp call the
Avery Parks and Recreation Department at 828-733-8266.
Tommy has in the past several years broadened his local mission base
by scheduling speaking engagements for churches, youth groups and
school events.  For more information or to contact Tommy, please
visit the
"Contact Me" page.