DESTINY BUERGE has that “it” factor. Her game is special because of her versatility. As soon as a defender thinks they have her game figured out, she surprises them with something else. One minute she’s shooting the lights out in the gym, next she’s attacking the basket, or going coast to coast handling the ball and creating her own shot.
We caught up with the 2023 guard from Carl Junction High School after an AAU practice last week. When asked about the process of her becoming the player that she is, she spoke with honesty and humility.
Says Buerge, “I get in the gym and put in the work. Practicing hard allows me to be confident and do me when I step into a game situation.”
It’s a Saturday evening in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Burge and her father are headed to check into a hotel to stay overnight for an 8:00 AM practice. She’s a little over two hours away from her home in Missouri. One hundred and twenty miles. The commitment she has for the game is impressive. “My parents push me to work hard, they have made me the person that I am today,” said Buerge.
It means a lot for her to look out at the stands and see her family supporting her as she plays the game she loves. Basketball isn’t the only thing on her mind. While hooping is her first love, volleyball has a special place in her heart as well. It would be easy to dismiss volleyball as just a hobby, but it’s allowed her to add to her game on the hardwood.
Says Buerge, “Volleyball is a very vocal sport, it requires constant communication. Playing volleyball has helped me become a more vocal basketball player.”
She tells me that she used to be shy. As I sit across from her I find that hard to believe. She’s quiet but playful and possesses a lot of charisma. We joke about the fact that her dad doesn’t know as much about volleyball as he does basketball so she can just have fun and enjoy playing. I tell her “no pressure because he probably doesn’t know all of the rules just yet.” We share a laugh then talk more about hoops.
Through basketball, she’s been able to become a leader and meet a lot of great people, including her best friend. But basketball also has its challenges. She expresses how it is sometimes difficult being a student-athlete. However, she finds a way to push herself and handle business on and off the court.
I’ve loved this game since I was four,” said Buerge. She believes that she can do anything that she puts her mind to.