KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Thursday the addition of Ethan Burg (AY-tahn BOURG).
A guard from Mishmar HaShiv’a, Israel, he most recently competed for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Super League the last two seasons. Burg, the second international recruit headed to Tennessee for the 2025-26 campaign, comes to Rocky Top with three years of eligibility.
“We are excited for Ethan and his family to join Tennessee basketball. He is a confident young man who plays with an edge,” Barnes said. “Ethan is a talented combo guard with backcourt versatility who is excellent in transition and can really get to the basket off the bounce. He also has the ability to shoot the ball. Ethan’s experience playing high-level international basketball should help him make a smooth transition to the SEC.”
Across his two campaigns with Bnei Herzliya, Burg averaged 11.0 points, 3.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 24.4 minutes per game over 54 appearances (including six postseason outings in 2023-24). The Gymnasia Realit Rishon LeZion graduate posted a 42.9 percent clip from the floor, a 32.8 percent mark from beyond the arc and 75.7 percent ledger at the line.
Burg’s shooting numbers were even better during the recent 2024-25 season, in which he made 24 appearances. He shot 44.7 overall, 37.6 percent from deep and 80.0 percent at the stripe, while averaging 11.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game. His 3-point percentage put him No. 28 in the league.
After the team finished eighth in 2023-24, Burg aided Bnei Herzliya to a fourth-place finish, at 15-11, in 2024-25. He scored in double figures 14 times this past year, logging 15-plus on seven occasions. In addition, Burg made at least one 3-pointer in 21 of his 24 outings, connecting on multiple long-range shots in 11 and hitting three on a half-dozen occasions.
During 2023-24 season, Burg tallied double-digit points in 17 of 30 appearances. He reached 15 points in eight of them, with 20-plus thrice. His career-best point total came on Feb. 14, 2024, when he logged 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting in an 87-76 win over Hapoel Be’er Sheva B.C.
The 6-foot-3, 187-pounder played in two games—wins over Portugal and Slovenia—in February 2025 for the Israeli Senior National Team during the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers in Riga, Latvia. He is the youngest of the 20 players currently taking part in the national team’s training camp, in advance of the official 2025 FIBA EuroBasket tournament.
Burg also represented his country at the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship, held in Podgorica, Montenegro, in July 2022. His play aided Israel to a fourth-place finish in the 16-team field. Burg averaged 6.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 18.7 minutes per game across seven outings. He scored 12 points on 4-of-7 long-range shooting in an 83-82 win over Italy to clinch first place in Group A, notched 11 points in a 77-60 Round of 16 triumph over Slovenia and 11 points in an 82-73 victory against Turkey in the quarterfinals.
Before inking with Tennessee, Burg fielded recruiting interest from schools such as Duke, Louisville and Minnesota.
Not only will Burg be the first player from Israel to play for Tennessee, he will also be the first from the Middle East and/or Asia. The Volunteers have previously featured players from Africa, Europe, North America and South America.
Burg is the ninth newcomer slated to join Tennessee for the 2025-26 season, following five high schoolers and three transfers. The prep signees are Nate Ament, DeWayne Brown II, Amari Evans and Clarence Massamba, while the transfers are Amaree Abram, Jaylen Carey and Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
