The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HE would have loved to have stayed around and played a little longer in the playoffs, but Jaraun ‘Keino’ Burrows was satisfied with the season that he experienced this year in the Swedish Professional Basketball League.

Burrows, a six-foot, nine-inch forward, is back home relaxing and recuperating from a sore body at the same time and contemplating his future.

“I had a good season in Sweden,” said Burrows as he took in the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Summer of Thunder opening series of exhibition games Monday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when the Bahamas All-Star ladies’ team lost to the visiting Montana State University Bobcats 61-46.

“We finished fourth as a team and we didn’t go as far as we would have liked to go in the playoffs, due to some injuries and some other stuff going on around the team. But it was a good individual year for me. I finished up strong and I signed a deal for next year so I will be going back to Sweden with the same team.”

The LF Basket Lulea basketball team, coached by Oquist Peter, ended up 23-11 in the Basketligan Standings as they completed the season on a four-game winning streak with an 88-85 decision over Sundsvall, who was fifth at 21-13.

However, Sundsvall turned things around in the quarter-final playoffs as they went on to sweep LF Basket Lulea, bringing an end to Burrows’ season.

In their 77-70 loss in the first game, Burrows scored 14 points and five rebounds. In a 94-77 loss in game two, Burrows had 15 points and five rebounds and in their final game on March 22, Burrows ended up with 12 points in their 69-67 loss.

During the season, Burrows averaged 19.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocked shots and 1.5 steals per game. In the 34 games he played with an average of 34.2 minutes per game, Burrows averaged 19.7 points per game.

For his efforts, Burrows was named Eurobasket.com Player of the Week at least three times, including the final week of the regular season. Once he was done, Burrows said it was time to do some things that he didn’t get a chance to do while he was playing.

“After the season was done, I decided to take a little break and do some travelling in Europe where I met up with some of my old buddies,” said Burrows, who was also named to the first team All-Tournament. “I came home right in time for the (IAAF) World Relays.

“I flew in the same day and me and my mother went right to the stadium. It was another great event. This was my second time going. It was a great experience. I was very pleased to see so many of the teams that I played in competing here. I can’t wait for 2017 (when the third edition is held).”

Now that he’s back home, Burrows is going to wait out his options, which includes playing again for the Bahamas when the men’s national team returns to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, for the CBC Tournament June 14-21.

“After this season, I was pretty beat up with some nagging injuries and right now I’m doing some rehab and my body is starting to feel good again,” Burrows said. “I have an offer to take another job overseas, so if I’m home, I will stay here and play, but if it works out, I might just go and play.”

In any event, Burrows said he would like to play again some day for Mario Bowleg, who is now the new head coach of the team.

“I’ve already been to war with Mario and I’ve been in support of him taking over as the head coach of the team for a while now,” Burrows said. “Mario coached all of us who are still playing and while there has been some coaching instability over the last few years, I think it will be good for us with him at the helm. Hopefully, we can develop under him and we can continue to be a competitive team on the international scene.”

Burrows, 29, said he intends to enjoy his time at home, relaxing with his family and friends and playing a little basketball to stay in shape before he heads off for his next season in the professional ranks.