Linda Burgess - 1995 

Linda Burgess, the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Charles Burgess, was born on July 27, 1969 in Madison, Alabama. She graduated from Bob Jones High School on 1988 with a dream to play professional basketball and the talent to back up her dream. Linda virtually rewrote the Bob Jones High School girls’ basketball record book setting standards in scoring and rebounding under Coach Kent Chambers. She averaged 30 points and 20 rebounds per year as a senior and was named to the All-State list. Her playing jersey was retired in ceremonies on the winter of 1993. 

Signed by Calhoun Community College Lady Warhawks Basketball coach Nancy Keenum, Linda was honored her first season of action by being named All-Division MVP, AJCC All-Region, and team MVP. She was the AJCC All-American nominee and was named to the Junior College All American Second Team, as she led her team to the AJCC Region XXII Finals. 

During her freshman year, Linda was also a member of Coach Myra King’s state championship women’s softball team and was credited with 5 school records: Highest batting Average (season .500), Most Runs Scored (season 61), Most Doubles (game 2), Most Hits (game 4), Most RBI’s (season 59), and Most Home Runs (game 2). Linda was selected to the NJCAA National Tournament Team as her team finished second in the nation.  

As a sophomore, Linda was again named the state’s Most Valuable Player, was selected to the Kodak All-American Team and received NJCAA First Team All-American honors. She was named AJCC All Region, All Division MVP, and team captain. Burgess was named MVP of the Lady Warhawk/Domino’s Pizza classic, the Dothan Coca-Cola Classic, and the Northwest Classic during her sophomore tenure. 

Linda erased 13 Lady Warhawk records during her tenure at Calhoun. Her career records included most points scored (1309), most two point field goal attempts (935), most two point field goals scored (565), best two point field goal percentage (.604), and 106 blocked shots. She also set season records with highest average points per game (25.1), most field goals attempted (504) and scored (319) best two point goal percentage (.633) and most points scored (752). 41 points scored by Burgess against Judson College also broke the school record for most points scored in a single game. 

Linda graduated from Calhoun at the end of the 1990 summer quarter and was signed by Coach Rick Moody to play at the University of Alabama. Her success continued at UA as she set new one year standards in scoring with a 20.3 points per game scoring average and a new mark in free throws attempted for a game (17) and for a season (167). She was selected as Southeastern Conference Player of the Week twice and to the All-Southeastern Conference team both seasons with the Crimson Tide. As a senior, she received an Honorable Mention NCAA All-American Award. 

Burgess signed to play professional basketball in Switzerland at the start of the 1992 season, and was later picked by her current team Ramat HaSharon in Israel. She set a team single game record her first season with 33 points and 27 rebounds and became a starter who averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds per game that first year.  

Once her professional athletic dream was secure, Linda returned to the University of Alabama to complete her academic goal. She received her B.S. degree in Education with a major in Human Performance in the summer of 1993.