Two stars stick together

They have played together for four years at Douglass High. Now they plan on playing four more together in college.

Douglass’ Andre Burgess and Anthony Johnson signed letters of intent to attend Lewis and Clark College in Alton, Ill. on Monday.

“Me and Anthony have talked about that we wanted to go to the same college together and play basketball,” Burgess said. “We thought Lewis and Clark would be a great place to play together because we’ll both be playing and it’s not too far from Columbia.”

Burgess and Johnson were the offensive backbone for the Bulldogs last season, often sharing top scoring honors and leading Douglass to an 18-7 record.

“We didn’t want to go that far from our families,” Johnson said.

Burgess’ mother, Vanessa McTye, said she knew he wasn’t going to go too far away.

“Andre’s somewhat of a mama’s boy,” McTye said. “He kind of wanted to stay close to home, and it’s just a little over two hours away.”

Burgess said that Lewis and Clark is far enough away for him to learn to be on his own.

The decision came down to Lewis and Clark, Moberly Community College, St. Louis Community College in Florissant Valley, and North Central Missouri College in Trenton.

Burgess said Lewis and Clark offered the best combination of athletics and academics. Burgess plans on majoring in chemistry.

“I want to be a pharmacist,” Burgess said. “I’m looking at courses in chemistry, math…courses towards my major.”

“(For chemistry), he has a lot of courses he knows that will help him with his degree,” McTye said. “We’re real pleased.”

Burgess and Johnson have played together since eighth grade at Oakland Junior High, and both said they think they will get to share time on the floor at Lewis and Clark.

“I think we’re going to get a great deal of playing time,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if we’re going to start yet, but I think we’re going to play some based on how we play in practice.”

McTye said that she and other family members will get to see both Burgess and Johnson play often.

“We plan on going to a lot of the games,” she said. “Since it’s not that far away, we’ll definitely be in Illinois.”