Greene County’s Laryous Burt scored his 1,000th point in a region win over Towns County on Jan. 17.
The moment wasn’t too big for Burt, who reached the milestone as he sank a free throw in the fourth quarter against the Indians. The senior Tigers’ forward finished with 26 points and eight rebounds in the win.
Burt worked hard and wanted to reach this career goal before graduating in May.
“Achieving a milestone like this means a great deal to me,” the senior told the Lake Oconee News. “Basketball is my passion, and the effort I’ve invested in the game has truly paid off. I take pride in myself for reaching this point. I’ve always had faith in my ability to achieve another milestone, and I feel proud of that.”
Burt has been a massive part of Greene County’s success this season. The Tigers entered this week 11-7 overall and 6-1 in region play. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior averages 19 points and nine rebounds a game.
Greene County head coach Mark Wright sees Burt as a team leader. He has coached Burt for the past three years.
Wright acknowledged that Burt is a selfless player and will do anything it takes for the team to win.
“We are very proud of Laryous’s accomplishments as a team,” he said. “He has worked hard and has been a diligent and impactful part of this program. More importantly, he recently told me, ‘I couldn’t do this without my teammates. Coach, I’m locked in now more than ever. We need to go now and be champions together.’”
In 2023-24, Burt averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds a game as a junior, earning him first-team All-State and All-Region honors. His contributions helped Greene County reach the second round of the state playoffs.
Last season, Wright noticed what a matchup problem Burt was for the Tigers’ opponents on the court.
“Laryous is a giant on the court for us, and for a guy in the middle, he’s a matchup problem for any team,” Wright said last June. “He is only 6-foot-2 but plays like he’s 6-foot-7. He’s a giant on the court for us, and for a guy in the middle, he’s a matchup problem for any team. He’s constantly double-and triple-teamed and never complains about getting fouled. He muscles through adversity and has become a natural leader for us.”
Greene County is primed to play Lincoln County and Lake Oconee Academy this week. The Tigers aim to win a state title but need to continue winning, and Burt will be crucial for them down the stretch.