Tag Archives: Khem Burch

2012’s Khem Burch, a soft spoken Canadian with a loud game

Rising junior Khem Burch is a name to watch. In our latest interview, Andrew Slater gets to know the Canadian who will be a cornerstone on Team Canada as he progresses. copyright BDN Photo

Khem Birch is a 6'9" 200 lb rising junior from the Montreal area. In June, Birch helped Canada win a bronze medal at the U-18 FIBA Americas Championship in San Antonio, leading the junior national team in rebounding and blocked shots.  After spending his sophomore year at Winchendon Academy, he has transferred to Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. At the recent King City Classic, the soft-spoken Canadian with the loud game spoke with Blue Devil Nation about  a variety of topics, ranging from his Canadian junior national team experience to his desire to being a two-and-done to Kyrie Irving.
 

What schools are recruiting you hardest right now?
Providence, Florida, Pitt, Texas, Ohio State, West Virginia, and Arizona.
 

Have they all offered?
Yes, they've all offered. Kentucky also contacted me recently, but they haven't offered yet. [private]
 

 

Do you have a timeframe for when you'd like to decide?
No, I don't know when I'll decide.
 

Do you still view it as early?
Oh, yeah, I'd say so.
 

What do you feel will be the most important factor, whenever you do decide on a college program?
My relationship with the coaching staff and also the players. I'd like to be comfortable with them.

Do you have a preference, in terms of style of play?
I like to run. I like to get up and down, but I can play either way.

Why did you decide to transfer to Notre Dame Prep?
Well, there were a few reasons. My coach left to take a different job. I think Notre Dame Prep is better academically. And then other guys on my team like Angel Nunez also left that school. I didn't want to be alone there.

Now, academically, are you going to be okay? There's not going to be any problems with qualifying, right?
Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I just think my new school is better. That's all. I'll be fine.

Will distance be a factor for you in your college decision?
I don't think so now. I'll have to talk it over with my mother since she would be the one that I'd want to see me. It was a big deal when I first came to America. I missed home so much.

Was it a major adjustment?
It was really tough, at first, making the adjustment. I was young and felt alone and I didn't really know anybody. My parents were going through some problems. I just missed home and my mother.

You've said that you'd like to be a "two and done." What made you come to that decision?
I've thought about it and I think I need to spend some time in college and enjoy it. I want to improve a lot before I go to the NBA, but that's my goal. I've put some thought into and I just don't want to be a one-and-done type.

I understand that you wanted to be a football player. Is that true?
Yeah, I did. I always wanted to play football more and hopefully grow up and play in the Canadian Football League. That was always my hope, when I was younger. I had good hands and that helped.

What position did you play?
I played mostly wide receiver because of my hands, but I also played some quarterback, I think, because of my height. They thought I could see better.

Do you think that your football mentality brings something different to the court from some of the other top players here?
Maybe. I think maybe more on defense and dealing with getting hit or being physical inside. I'm not afraid to get hit at all.

Where have you visited?
I've visited two schools: Massachusetts and Providence. I will be going to visit Pitt, though.

When is that visit scheduled?
In August, I believe.

They have you listed for some reason at 175. What do you actually weight now?
Yeah, I don't know why, but I'm up to two hundred pounds now. It's something I've been working on for a while.

I saw you playing for Winchendon last November in one of those showcase tournaments and I thought you stood out, particularly with changing the other team's shots and hitting the offensive glass, but your arms look bigger and more defined now.
Yeah, thanks. I've been able to add weight and muscle since I got to Notre Dame Prep like a month ago. I think I've added like ten pounds of muscle or something since I've gotten there. I give the school a lot of the credit. It's helped a lot with my arms and upper body, but I know that I've still got a long way to go.

What do you hope to weigh?
I'm hoping to eventually weigh between 220 and 230. I'd like to be able to get up to around 210 this season.

What position are they primarily recruiting you as, center or power forward?
Both really. I think they see me as a big guy that can play either position, but I guess more people look at me as a power forward.

Who are some of the other top kids that you're friendly with?
Angel Nunez and Ricardo Ledo. Angel was my teammate last season and he's going with me to Notre Dame.

Yeah, I know Angel a little bit. He was from the Bronx.
Yeah, exactly, and Ricardo I know from AAU. Actually, most of the kids here didn't know me before I got here.

Why do you think that is?
 I don't think they ever heard of me before, for whatever reason, maybe because of where I played or the league.

Well, I mean it's a very competitive league and schedule. If they didn't know about you before, I'm sure that you've made an impression this week. There's a reason why I put a request in to speak with you first.  Can you talk about the experience of playing for Canada? You guys trained in Toronto, right?

Oh, yeah, we did. That was just a great experience. I didn't know any of those guys before, but we bonded like brothers and I think I'm going to be friends with those guys for the rest of my life. It was amazing because we were together for like three straight weeks. I was so disappointed to not get the gold, but I'm glad that at least we got a medal and we'll be back in the future.

Definitely, the USA was loaded and you guys earned the bronze medal.
Yeah, I thought we played well, but it also made me realize that I need to improve my game on offense and be more versatile. I guess, in the end, I feel proud of our performance and really grateful for the opportunity.

Who's the best player that you've faced so far?
That's tough. There were some really difficult guys we faced in our league like  Will Barton or Andre Drummond and Myck (Kabongo) was great for the Canadian team, but I'd have to say Kyrie Irving. He was just unbelievable down there.

What made Kyrie so difficult?
He could kill you in so many different ways. He changes speeds and thinks so well out there and can shoot the ball and passes it amazingly . He was just tough, man.

At this point, what do you feel are your strengths?

My energy or motor. I like to get after it and my shot blocking.

Now, you've only been playing this game for about four years. What do you feel you need to improve upon most, before you reach college?
I need to be more versatile on offense and improve my body too. I need to be more vocal on the court too. I realize that now.

What are your goals for this upcoming season?
To win the championship in New England, which'll be tough, but I think we can do it and hopefully win the national championship. That will be our goal or expectation. For me, personally, I just want to keep pushing myself to improve my weaknesses on the court and improve my body too.

Will you be going to Orlando or Vegas this year with your AAU program?
Orlando this year

We were talking before about distance before and being open. If Duke were to express interest in you, would you be open to them?
Oh, yeah, definitely. Absolutely.

What do you know about Duke?
Oh, I mean they're a great program. They just won the national title. They're great academically. They've got Coach K and great fans too. They can get players to the NBA.

Since you haven't spoken with him yet, what's your impression of Coach Krzyzewski from afar?
He's coached the USA team to the gold medal and just won the national title with Duke. I mean he's coached a lot of great players and won a lot of games. He's got a great reputation.

What would you like the audience to know about you away from the court?
I like to listen to music a lot.

What type of music? Different types?
No, just rap or hip hop.

Thanks a lot, Khem, and good luck the rest of the summer.
Thanks. [/private]