VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State men's basketball senior Burke Putnam joined the award-winning Blazer Spotlight Podcast this week.
 
The Blazer Spotlight Podcast is in its second season under the production of Assistant Professor of Digital Production, Dr. Colin Walker and hosted by Assistant Athletic Director for Development, Matt Malone. This is the 13th episode of the second season and fifth of the 2021 calendar.
 
Putnam, a native of Tulsa, Okla., is in his second year as a Valdosta State Blazer after spending two seasons at Connors State Community College. The point guard has started in all 21 games this season to add on to his 19 starts from the season previous. Earning his way to a starting position in the 2019-20 season, Putnam came out ready to compete as he was one of two Blazers named to the Preseason All-GSC Team, alongside senior Imoras Agee.
 
The honors for Putnam were well deserved where he's shooting 106 of 268 (.396) from the field for 15.3 points per game and came up huge down the stretch, especially in the Gulf South Conference Tournament. Putnam was a helping hand during the 88-69 quarterfinal win over Delta State where he dished out nine assists and was perfect from the charity stripe. The senior took off in a crucial win against West Georgia in the semi's, recording his second double-double of the season with 25 points while setting a career high with 13 rebounds. Putnam put the game on ice as he made eight free throws in the final minute to help push the Blazers to the championship game. He didn't stop there as he went on to record a season high of 28 points along with 12 rebounds for his second-straight double-double, leading the Blazers to its first-ever GSC Tournament title. With his performance, Putnam earned GSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Putnam was also named first team all-conference.
 
Putnam earned his starting role after finishing the 2019-20 season with 11.7 points per game with a career high of 30 after a dominant 98-64 win over Thomas University. A junior at the time, he hit a blistering 124 of 224 (.554) from the field with 21 shots from deep (.362).
 
During his two years at Connors State CC, he averaged 11.0 points per game in 60 games with 36 starts. As a sophomore, he played in 32 games with 32 starts where he averaged 16.0 points per game, going 179 of 404 from the field (.443) and 46 of 117 from downtown (.393). He connected on 108 of 140 free throws (.771), while averaging 5.2 rebounds per game and 165 total rebounds.
 
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