NC State’s DJ Burns Had the Most Humble Reaction to Seeing So Many Fans at His Meet-and-Greet

Patrick Andres | Apr 3, 2024

Mar 31, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) reacts. / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Every March in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, an unlikely hero rises.

Some, such as Butler forward Gordon Hayward or Lehigh guard C.J. McCollum, go on to bigger and better things in the NBA. Others, such as Valparaiso guard Bryce Drew or Northern Iowa guard Ali Farokhmanesh, remain frozen in time in the minds of the public.

However, they all share the same connective tissue: they emerged from obscurity to capture America's imagination.

That is what NC State forward DJ Burns is currently doing—a process confirmed by a meet-and-greet whose turnout left him speechless.

Burns took a video where he panned to an enormous crowd waiting in line at an Applebee's in Raleigh.

DJ Burns got the whole city out for his meet and greet 🔥 (via @beastboyburns) pic.twitter.com/nAMCzY3vyH

— Overtime (@overtime) April 2, 2024

In helping the Wolfpack reach their first Final Four since the iconic events of 1983, Burns's heroics have included a double-double in the second round against Oakland and a 29-point outing in the Elite Eight against Duke.

Beloved due to his formidable size, outstanding footwork and boisterous on-court personality, the Rock Hill, S.C., native will lead NC State into a clash with Purdue on Saturday evening in the Final Four.