Burks played at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, then one year at Hiwassee Junior College in Madisonville, Tennessee before joining the University of Memphis as an invited walk-on.

He was then traded to his hometown Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for cash considerations.

After appearing in four games for the Miami Heat during the 2006 preseason, he was signed by them on October 2, 2006.

[4] Burks later played with KK Crvena zvezda of the Serbian basketball league.

[1] According to a eurobasket.com report, Burks was banned for a season from FIBA, because KK Crvena zvezda had informed them that Burks had broken the rules of his contract by leaving 20 days earlier.