The award is given to the men's college basketball player on all levels with the most steals during the season
NEW ORLEANS – Loyola men's basketball senior Myles Burns has been a menace for opposing teams to deal with throughout his career. The Houston, Texas, native racked up 152 total steals in 38 games this season, leading the NAIA in both total steals and his 4.5-steal-per-game average. His 152 steals led the college basketball world, too, totaling more steals than any player on any level during the 2021-22 campaign.
For his efforts, Burns was awarded the Marques Haynes Award by CollegeInsider.com and ERACISM, and the honor is given to the player with the most total steals in college basketball. The award is part of the HBCU Legends awards, and its purpose is to highlight the top players at all levels of college basketball.
Monday's honor adds to Burns' long list of awards he's collected so far this season. Burns was named the Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Week three times this season before earning his fourth-straight SSAC Defensive Player of the Year award to go along with his SSAC First Team All-Conference spot. He was also picked as the SSAC Championship MVP after leading the Wolf Pack to the tournament title, then he was named the NAIA National Championship MVP after helping the Pack to their first national championship in 77 years. Burns was selected to the NAIA All-America Second Team.
Burns shattered his own school record of 85 steals in a season he set as a freshman, and he passed the SSAC single-steals record during the NAIA National Championship tournament last month. After breaking the Loyola career steals record as a sophomore and finishing his senior season with 152 steals, Burns has recorded 358 steals throughout his career to set a bar for the Wolf Pack program that will be very difficult to touch.
One of the primary goals of ERACISM is to educate today's fans on the stars of the past, and the HBCU Legends Awards will shine a light on players like Kentucky State's Travis Grant who is College Basketball's all-time leading scorer. Thus, the Travis Grant Award will annually honor the top scorer in all levels of college basketball. The Zelmo Beaty Award will highlight the nation's top shot blocker, the Marques Haynes Award will recognize the leader in steals, the Cleo Hill Award will highlight college basketball's leader in assists, and the Willis Reed Award will be presented annually to the top rebounder in college basketball.
A wizard with the basketball, Haynes had a stellar career at Langston University (1942–1946). During his four seasons, the Lions recorded an incredible 112-3 record, which included a 59-game winning streak. He led Langston in scoring all four years and was a four-time All-Conference selection. In 1946 Haynes and Langston upset the Harlem Globetrotters in an exhibition game. One year later Haynes was part of the famed Globetrotters.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com
