jcrhea@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

As basketball season continues, we are all familiar with the matching 6’ 8” tall Burgon brothers. Both seniors, center Chandler and forward Colton are now in their third season with the Mavericks and already making headway early this season.

Colton Burgon was recently named RMAC Player of the Week after the Mavericks’ performance in the 2012 Clarion Inn Thanksgiving Classic. He and brother Chandler have both made appearances in that honorary profile in the past three seasons with CMU.

Twenty-four-year-old Chandler and 22-year-old Colton grew up in Sandy, Utah, where their passion for basketball began.

“We’ve both always been very competitive,” Colton said. “We had a lot of backyard pickup games that got pretty intense. Chandler has always pushed me to be better, and I do the same with him.”

In 2010, after both had played for other schools, the brothers worked out together for the CMU coaches and made an impression.

“Our dad says that Colton got the God-given talent and that I got the heart,” Chandler said. “Really, it’s just cool to get to play on the same team as your brother. It’s the first time we’ve gotten to do that.”

After his first year with Dixie State, Chandler left school to serve as a Mormon missionary in Jamaica and the Bahamas. Prior to leaving, he had been talking with Utah State and believed he had an offer awaiting him there when he returned. However, the offer would not hold up.

“Actually, for a while I didn’t think I was going to play anymore and that I was retired,” Chandler said. “But my brother pushed me and told me not to give up. He worked out with me and we both came to CMU.”

Colton had been playing in Salinas, Calif., at Hartnell Community College before teaming up with his brother to wow the Mesa coaches. The Burgon brothers both received full-ride scholarships to play basketball and major in business.

The Burgons will be a key factor for the Mavericks, who are off to a promising 5-1, 2-0 RMAC start this season. Colton is averaging 17.8 points, seven rebounds and almost two blocks per game.

Chandler is currently recovering from a torn shoulder labrum. He hopes to be back by January and, until then, will continue to support his brother and the team.