Burrage, Solis hit road for dream
Their stories are different, yet eerily similar.
They come from different schools in different states and compete in different sports, but Matt Solis and Kannon Burrage are living the same hectic life, riding the same crazy merry-go-round in pursuit of the same magnificent dream.
“A scholarship to a quality school,” Burrage says, matter-of-factly, “to get a quality education and make my mom proud.”
“My goal,” Solis echoes, “is to get a Division I scholarship. That’s all I’m going for right now.”
You’ll hear a similar refrain from hundreds of high school athletes in and around the Quad-Cities who are taking advantage of the seemingly endless opportunities out there to compete, improve and be seen by college scouts.
Burrage, a budding star on the basketball court entering his senior year at United Township, will play more than 100 organized games this year, 60 to 70 outside his regular high school schedule.
Solis, a Bettendorf golfer also heading into his senior year, has played in 13 junior events in the past year and will be in at least that many in the next 12 months — that on top of a high school season that spans the spring.
It’s a year-round, coast-to-coast deal for “serious” high school athletes these days, and Solis and Burrage are serious about their sports. It’s all about exposure, all about taking advantage of the vast array of out-of-season opportunities that weren’t there for earlier generations.
“I think I might take one day off, but then I’ve got to get back to it,” an exhausted Solis said on a Wednesday earlier this month, “because I’ve got a tournament starting on Monday.
“I might take five days off all summer — maximum.”
When Solis isn’t traveling the country — he’s played in tournaments in Florida, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Georgia in the past year — he’s playing at home.
“I play every day,” he said. “I have a tournament a week, maybe even two in some weeks.”
It’s the kind of schedule Solis saw pay off for former Bettendorf golfer Mike Wuertz, who built his game on the junior circuit before signing to play at Iowa State starting next fall. It’s the kind of schedule he’s hoping will pay off for him.
Tougher competiton
Burrage, a Quad-City Times All-Metro pick as a junior, plays for the Iowa Barnstormers AAU program out of Iowa City. Since his high school season ended in March, he has played in tournaments in Fayetteville, Ark., Sioux Falls, S.D., Fort Wayne, Ind., St. Louis and Ames.
He has had the past month off from AAU and has spent it playing in a league at St. Ambrose and attending camps at colleges around the Midwest.
In July, he’ll have tournaments in Chicago, Milwaukee and Las Vegas.
“It’s a great time,” Burrage said. “I love traveling and I love basketball, and with AAU, you get to do both. So, that’s really the best of both worlds for me.
“It’s a higher level of competition. The Quad-Cities, we’ve got good players here, but when you compare it to Chicago and cities like Memphis — they’ve got some great players. When you get out there and play them, it raises your game.”
Burrage’s financial investment is minimal — he is on scholarship with the Reebok-sponsored Barnstormers, which covers everything from shoes to uniforms to travel. Solis’ is more substantial, jetting and driving to events on his own dime and paying for hotels out of pocket.
College prospects
The sacrifices made by each are immeasurable. They are both one-sport athletes, having given up others along the way in order to specialize year-round.
And it is year-round.
After AAU wraps in July, Burrage will play in a fall league from August through October before going into the school season. Solis will take a few weeks off in October before working out indoors at the OS Sports Complex through the winter leading up to his season in the spring. By then, he hopes to know where he’ll be headed for college.
“I’ve been talking to a couple Division I coaches. I just need to show them some good scores, and then they’ll offer me,” said Solis, who lists Florida Gulf Coast, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois State as possible suitors.
As for Burrage, he has no offers yet, but there is plenty of interest, says Barnstormers coach Jamie Johnson.
“I’ve had calls and interest from schools in the Mountain West Conference to the Patriot League, the Ivy League, the Horizon League and Conference USA,” Johnson said. “I’m guessing he’ll end up at a mid-major school. Somewhere like Bradley, Western Illinois, Northern Iowa or Northern Illinois.”
And if he doesn’t, will the price he paid be worth it? Will there be regret?
“It’s going to be a great experience either way,” Burrage said. “I’ve met a lot of people. I have a lot of friends that I wouldn’t have had.
“I try not to put that much pressure on myself. It’s all fun to me. I just try to have fun and not really think about it. When I play, I play to win and have fun.”
Eric Page can be contacted at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.