Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon announced on Apr. 20 that Demarion Burch has signed to join the Redbird men’s basketball team for the 2026-27 season.
The addition of Burch is seen as an important move for the program, which aims to build on recent successes and strengthen its roster. Illinois State Redbirds competes in NCAA Division I events across various regions, according to the official website.
“Demarion is a tremendous addition to our program,” Pedon said. “He is a tough, versatile player and he is a young man that has a lot to prove. We love Demarion’s game and through his recruiting process, it became very apparent that he really values winning. We believe that with hard work, Demarion can do great things here at Illinois State. He comes to us with real knowledge of what is required to win games in the Missouri Valley Conference, and that matters to us. He also comes to us with a giant chip on his shoulder, which can be very powerful for our program. We are all very excited to welcome Demarion and his circle to our Redbird Basketball family.”
Burch hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and averaged 8.8 points per game last season while playing for the Braves in 26 games. His performance included a season-high of 25 points against Belmont on January 1 and double-digit scoring in ten games throughout the year. In previous seasons as both sophomore and freshman, he contributed consistently with notable shooting percentages and assists.
A graduate of Milwaukee Hamilton High School in 2023, Burch was recognized twice as First Team All-State alongside future teammate Johnny Kinziger after averaging over 27 points per game during his senior year.
The Illinois State Redbirds are coming off a strong campaign with a record of 23-13 in the previous season after advancing to the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The team also posted an impressive start by going 8-2 earlier in their schedule according to the official website: official website.
According to their official website, Illinois State University supports its athletic programs through resources such as news updates, schedules, rosters and fan engagement tools aimed at strengthening its community involvement.
Student-athletes like Burch benefit from facilities including OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center designed for preparation and development according to information available from their official website. The university also receives support from initiatives like the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund intended for competitiveness and recruitment efforts.
