Joel Berry II

Joel Berry II
Berry with UNC in 2017
Free agent
Position Point guard
Personal information
Born (1995-04-01) April 1, 1995
Orlando, Florida
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school Lake Highland Preparatory
(Orlando, Florida)
College North Carolina (2014–2018)
NBA draft 2018 / Undrafted
Playing career 2018–present
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing the  United States
FIBA World U17 Championship
2012 Lithuania National team

Joel DeWayne Berry II (born April 1, 1995) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and led the team to the 2017 national championship.

High school career

Berry during the 2014 McDonald's All-American Game

Berry, a 6'0 point guard, played high school basketball at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, Florida. He led his team to two state titles and was the first player named Florida Mr. Basketball three times. He was named a Parade All-American and McDonald's All-American as a senior in 2014.[1]

College career

Berry's freshman season was hampered by injury. He averaged 4.2 points and 1.5 assists per game backing up junior Marcus Paige at point guard.

As a sophomore, Berry moved into the starting lineup at point guard, with Paige shifting over to shooting guard, resulting in a dramatic increase in Berry's offensive production. Berry helped the team to an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season title. He then helped the team to an ACC Tournament championship, averaging 17 points per game and coming away with Most Valuable Player honors.[2][3] In the post-season, Berry and the Tar Heels made the Final Four and 2016 NCAA championship game. During the championship game, Berry scored 20 points and dished out four assists, but North Carolina fell short on a last-second shot to Villanova, 77-74.

As a junior, Berry led the Tar Heels to the ACC regular season title. In the NCAA Tournament, despite playing with injuries to both ankles, Berry led the Tar Heels to a 2017 NCAA men's basketball championship. In the national title game against Gonzaga, Berry scored 22 points and had six assists, and was thereafter named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, becoming the first player since Bill Walton to score 20 points or more in back-to-back title games.[4] While Berry was one out of 182 players that declared early entry into the 2017 NBA Draft, he ultimately decided to return to North Carolina for his senior season instead, announcing his decision on April 25, 2017.

In his Senior year, Berry led the Tar Heels to the ACC tournament final. Despite losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament, he averaged 17.1 points and 3.2 assists per game. He was named the winner of the Dean Smith Most Valuable Player award at the 2017-18 UNC men’s basketball awards ceremony, and was one of eight finalists for the James E. Sullivan Award, which is presented by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to the top amateur athlete in the United States. He was also voted a third team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Berry earned this distinction just two weeks after being named a 2018 first team All-ACC selection.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Berry played with the Los Angeles Lakers summer league team, and they signed him to an NBA contract afterwards.[5] On October 8, 2018, he was waived by the Lakers after appearing in three preseason games.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Clemmons, Anna Katherine (March 16, 2016). "Workhorse Joel Berry II the quintessential X-Factor for North Carolina". USA Today. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  2. ↑ Schramm, Stephen (March 13, 2016). "UNC's Joel Berry saves his best moments for the ACC's biggest stage". fayobserver.com. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  3. ↑ Carter, Andrew (March 18, 2016). "UNC's Joel Berry makes preseason vision a reality". Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ Schlager, Brandon (April 4, 2017). "Joel Berry II lifts Tar Heels to title on bum ankles, earns Final Four MOP honors". Sporting News. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  5. ↑ https://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/180718-lakers-sign-joel-berry-ii
  6. ↑ "Lakers Waive Joel Berry II and Jeffrey Carroll". NBA.com. October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
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