UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Long before she began lacing up her basketball sneakers as a Lady Lion, freshman guard Maddie Burke still spent many of her Saturday afternoons dressed in Blue and White.
Burke, a Pennsylvania native and niece to two Penn State alumni, had her sights set on Happy Valley before she made a national reputation for herself on the court.
"We used to watch every Saturday game day for Penn State football," Burke said. "At a young age, there was a picture of me and my twin sister in Penn State gear and matching cheerleading outfits."
At Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Burke emerged as a four-time All-State and first team All-League honoree, tallying career numbers of 1,340 points, 660 rebounds, 155 assists, 231 steals and 218 blocks.
After leading her team to a District Championship and undefeated conference season, Burke was named Pennsylvania 6A Player of the Year as a senior.
A highly-touted recruit, Burke had an array of basketball programs that were interested in her college future. But, it was familiarity and legacy of Penn State, along with the addition of an experienced coaching staff, that drew Burke back to the place she cheered for during those weekend football watch parties.
"Representing my home state was a big piece of that," Burke said. "When Kiegs came in and her staff came in, I was like 'I love that.'"
Due to Burke's popular status on the recruiting scene, she was one of the first prospects that head coach Caroyln Kieger and assistant coach Ginny Boggess had reached out to in their first year with Penn State.
"She was a number one for us, on day one when we accepted this job, and when I became recruiting coordinator," Boggess said. "We've been working on that relationship since I started working in Happy Valley"
Though she was a phenomenal all-around player, it was Burke's marksmanship from the perimeter that not only earned her a platform on the national recruiting scale but has propelled her to making significant contributions as a first-year player.
"I knew that in our system, she would be an absolute dynamic fit because of the way we stretch the floor and play with pace," Boggess added.
Burke is currently ranked fourth amongst all Division I freshmen with 51 three-pointers this season. In a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this accomplishment also already places her fourth on the Penn State freshman season three-point field goals made records list, with at least two more games to play.
"I did not," Burke said when asked if she envisioned having this much success as a freshman. "I just came in and bought into the vision that Kiegs preaches."
In back-to-back games against Big Ten opponents Iowa and Nebraska in mid-February, Burke knocked down six shots from beyond the arc, making her the first Penn State player to record back-to-back games with six or more three-pointers since former All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year Maggie Lucas '14. Moreover, the freshman completed a stretch where she drilled three or more treys in seven of eight straight games.
"There have been a couple times in practice where I was like 'holy crap, she might be better than I thought she was,'" Boggess said. "And I thought she was really good to begin with."
Burke credits her quick release and soft touch to training sessions at Delaware Valley College throughout her upbringing.
"Their men's head coach used to give shooting lessons," Burke said. "He learned from Herb Magee, who's a 'Philly' legend and taught me how to shoot."
Though Burke's shot may not always be falling at such a high clip, her presence on the floor alone creates spacing and opens up other opportunities for her teammates.
"Even when she's not hitting the shots, she's still stretching the floor for our drivers and our penetraters," Kieger said.
"You have to guard her, and that keeps the defense from helping off on our drivers and doubling," added senior forward Johnasia Cash. "It allows the other four players on our team to exploit their mismatches."
Though Burke's range is conspicuous at this point, her supportive group of coaches and teammates also feel that she has proven that she is more than just a spot up shooter.
"I think the last couple games, you've seen her shot fake and get a pull up here or there," Kieger said. "She's turning in to a great low post passer."
"She's an exceptional passer, her vision and feel for the game are really high level," Boggess said.
Unfortunately for Big Ten opponents, Burke, a true freshman, is still growing as a student-athlete on a day-to-day basis, yet to reach her full potential.
Much of this development, however, is internal, since Burke's physical tools and skills are remarkably already up to par.
"It's a lot more mental than I thought," Burke said. "I learn a new thing every single day and just building confidence."
"I think the development is not so much about her skillset, but I think it's just that confidence to use everything in her bag," Boggess said.
"I think you'll see her game continue to develop the more that she gains confidence and kind of considers herself more than just a spot up shooter," Kieger said. "She's lethal from downtown, but once she gets that confidence, she's going to be a very special player."
