Nimari Burnett is an American basketball player who currently plays as a guard for the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Conference. Born on December 20, 2001, in Chicago, Illinois, Burnett stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.
Early Life and Education
Burnett began his high school basketball career at Morgan Park High School in Chicago, where he was teammates with future NBA player Ayo Dosunmu. He contributed to the team’s Class 3A state championship win, scoring 20 points in the championship game and earning MaxPreps Freshman All-American honors.
He later transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California, for his senior year, averaging 25.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Burnett was named Finals MVP of the Grind Session World Championship after scoring 37 points in the title game. He was selected to participate in both the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, though both events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
College Career
Burnett began his collegiate career at Texas Tech University in 2020, where he averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 rebounds over 12 games. He transferred to the University of Alabama in April 2021 but missed the 2021-2022 season due to right knee surgery. In the 2022-2023 season, he played in 27 games, starting nine, and averaged 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Burnett transferred to the University of Michigan in March 2023. In the 2023-2024 season, he set career highs, averaging 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while shooting 40% from the field and 35% from three-point range. He returned for the 2024-2025 season under new head coach Dusty May. Through 16 games, Burnett led NCAA Division I basketball in true shooting percentage, averaging 10.9 points per game on 57% shooting from the field, 51% from three-point range, and 81% from the free-throw line.
On February 27, 2025, Burnett hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to secure an 84-82 victory over Rutgers. He helped lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship in the 2025 Big Ten tournament, contributing to the team’s first-place finish in the conference.
Playing Style
Burnett is known for his versatility as a combo guard, capable of playing both on and off the ball. He uses his length and strength to overpower defenders and attack the basket, showing solid floor vision and the ability to find open teammates. When playing off the ball, Burnett is a capable scorer, adept at attacking the rim and shooting from deep.