Natalie Burton goes from WVU to Rio Olympics
Natalie Burton had a solid career for the WVU women’s basketball team from 2008 to 2012.
Burton has kept up her skills the past five years and that has helped her land a spot on the Australian team at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
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Burton was hard to miss for the Mountaineers in her four-year career. She certainly stood out as a 6-foot-11 center. She played in a starting role for the first two years she was with West Virginia, but saw her playing time wane as WVU head coach Mike Carey focused his recruiting style on size and power.
Burton had the height advantage over many girls in the Big East Conference, at the time, but her lanky frame held her back in one of the top women’s basketball leagues.
Burton was the lone senior on the 2012 West Virginia squad.
Nonetheless, she was a valuable commodity and a reliable figure for Carey and the coaching staff.
Burton has kept up appearances and stayed loyal as she has since returned home to her native Australia following her time with the Mountaineers. Since 2013, she has been a part of the national team of the country.
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Before Burton and her team makes the trip for the Rio Olympics, she will return to her adopted home of the United States. According to WVUsports.com, Australia will play a three-game exhibition tour, here. Burton will not be back in Morgantown, however, as her team will stay further away on the east coast.
Australia will play in Delaware, Connecticut and New York City.
Burton is not the only former Mountaineer basketball player who will be participating in the Rio Olympics. Another foreign player, Yelena Leuchanka, will be representing her native country of Belarus in the Rio Olympics.
Both women played an integral part for the Mountaineers when they were wearing the blue and gold. Both Leuchanka and Burton were taller girls who had a unique role on the court.
Burton’s role with her professional team, the Perth Lynx. Is similar to what she did with the Mountaineers. She recently averaged 5.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game with that team.
Burton was a consistent player for West Virginia and she is showing that same strength, now, on an international level.