Darian DeVries has made some major moves in the transfer portal this offseason, and one of his most noteworthy additions comes in the form of point guard Markus Burton. The 6'0" 190-pound playmaker was one of the top names on the market, and is ranked as the No. 24 overall player and No. 6 point guard in the portal by 247Sports.
Setting the ceiling for Indiana with Darian DeVries' offseason moves nearly complete
Over the last three seasons with Notre Dame, Burton has been one of the top scorers in the ACC. He led all ACC freshman with 17.5 points per game in 2023-24, and paced the entire conference by scoring 21.3 points per game as a sophomore in 2024-25. He played just 10 games this past season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, but in those 10 contests he put up 18.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting a strong 48.9% from the floor.
DeVries and Burton have a connection that goes back several years, and that relationship appears to have played a big role in Burton's decision to leave South Bend for Bloomington.
Darian DeVries used his previous connection with Markus Burton to get him to Bloomington
Speaking with college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman on The Field of 68, Burton peeled back the curtain on what factored into his decision-making process in the portal.
When discussing his process, Burton revealed that DeVries was the first coach to extend him a scholarship offer back when he was at Drake. That move clearly made a lasting impact on Burton, and the relationship between player and coach seems to have stayed in tact since then.
Burton also stated that he has a firm belief in DeVries' ability to develop his game and reach a level that will surprise people in 2026.
"With Indiana, what stood out to me was Coach DeVries was my first offer out of high school when he was at Drake. The relationship goes way back. I really like what he's been doing at Indiana and I like what he's done in the past. I believe he can get me to a level that people probably didn't think I could play at."Markus Burton
Darian DeVries was the first coach to offer Markus Burton out of high school when he was at Drake:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) May 11, 2026
"The relationship goes way back. I really like what he's doing. I believe he can get me to a level that people probably didn't think I could play at."
🎥: https://t.co/A3Uo9NvbWr pic.twitter.com/0KdNjVDDP2
Along with his solid bond with DeVries, Burton has strong ties to The Hoosier State. He originally hails from Mishawaka, and was named the 2023 Indiana Mr. Basketball at Penn High School. He then emerged into a collegiate star in South Bend, and is now Bloomington bound to play for the Cream and Crimson.
As it stands, Burton currently has one season of eligibility remaining. However, he is seeking a medical redshirt for another year of eligibility after playing in just 10 games this past season.
Now healthy, Burton is poised to put together a monster season in Bloomington. He figures to be Indiana's floor general in Year 2 of the DeVries era, and he should be expected to take on the leading scoring role that Lamar Wilkerson held last season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google