C.B. West's Maddie Burke is the talk of local girls' basketball
The talk was clear, and it was everywhere. "Have you heard about that kid going to Central Bucks West next year?"
The talk was clear, and it was everywhere.
"Have you heard about that kid going to Central Bucks West next year?"
"She's the real deal."
"I hear UConn is already interested."
The conversations among fans, coaches and parents became more frequent as time wore on.
"That West freshman, have you seen her play?"
"Now, that West kid, wow."
"You'll have to watch out for her."
That West kid? Her name is Maddie Burke, and she's a freshman for the Bucks.
The chatter surrounding her started well before she drained her first three-pointer or collected her first block. It existed prior to the 15-year old ever putting on the uniform, even before, "At forward, freshman, No. 23, Maddie Burke."
Before the baskets and the starting spot in the lineup, the basketball world knew very well who Burke was. The 6-foot guard/forward with long arms and a graceful stride had made a name for herself as an up-and-comer, someone who could take the area by storm and pick up the star mantle voided by Nicole Munger, now a sophomore at Michigan.
The narrative was already set for Burke: She would be an all-time great who would bring titles to Central Bucks West.
But questions remained before the season started.
How could she live up to those expectations?
How would she perform under pressure?
How would she handle knowing that for 32 minutes every eye in the bleachers would be on her?
Turns out, she was just fine. More than fine, actually.
"I felt pressure to live up to expectations, like everyone was saying," Burke said. "But I just went in and played. I didn't worry what people thought of me. I just played, blocked out everything."
It's what she's been doing since middle school, when classmates used to call out to her in the hallways. "Ohhhhhhh, it's Maddie Burke. She's so good."
"I just put it aside and just kept playing," Burke stated, matter of factly.
The playing is what got her noticed in the first place, and she's kept it up through 23 games for the surging Bucks (19-4). Burke is averaging 10 points, four blocks, more than 5 rebounds, two steals and only one turnover per game.
"It's super exciting. We hear people say that we can be so good, do great things," Burke said. "And that excites us, makes us work hard. We want to live up to expectations, do great things."
Coach Terry Rakowsky, who first saw her play in third or fourth grade, called Burke the most developed freshman scorer he's ever had at West. He sees a little of former Germantown Academy standout and current Indiana Fever player Maggie Lucas in Burke, especially her shot from 22 feet.
"She's lived up to expectations. Great kid. Great person. Works hard. Listens," Rakowsky said. "You tell her something, and you know when she comes back to practice a day or two later that she's gone home and worked on it. She's a special kid.
"Now she does it with skill. She has the long arms, and she's tall. One day soon she will dominate physically on both ends of the floor. That's really exciting for us."
A glimpse of that exciting future was on display at Bensalem last weekend when West faced off against then-undefeated Plymouth Whitemarsh. It was an 8-point game in the third quarter when Burke had the ball by the baseline. She didn't hesitate, taking a few dribbles before she spun and pulled up to hit the five-footer.
On the Colonials' ensuing possession, she blocked a shot, which led to a bucket in transition for the Bucks.
Just like that, the lead grew to 13.
"It's amazing as a freshman she is able to come in here and have that confidence," said Maggie Rakowsky, a senior point guard and the coach's daughter. "I know that, as a freshman, I was a role player. I came in here to play defense, and I passed that ball. That's what I did. I give so much props for her, for her to come in here and have that confidence and do what she does."
Next to Burke's bed in her Doylestown room is her desk. There's a drawer in which she keeps a binded folder, a drawer that she just cleaned out over the summer, one with notecards, pens, and pencils - the usual for a student.
The folder is purple, not because it's her favorite color. Light blue is. But she uses it because it doesn't break or snap as she keeps letters she receives from colleges inside. Some have contact information. Others hold material about camps the program runs, while others tout what they have to offer her.
There are letters from roughly 20 schools in there, a number Burke didn't know off the top of her head. In fact, she underestimated the quantity at first, putting it at, "maybe 10."
Schools such as Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, and yes, even UConn, are represented.
"It's not definite," Burke said, obviously embarrassed by all the fuss. "They are just a little interested."
As it turns out, almost everyone in Southeastern Pennsylvania is, too.
@ka_harman