Back again, 7 days before the draft with a look at another 2nd round prospect for Indiana, the impressive Big Sky Conference player of the year, the dynamic guard Davion Berry from Weber State.
If the mention of "Weber State" is sounding alarm bells to your head, that is because Berry comes from the same college that produced NBA top point guard Damian Lillard. In fact, Berry is best friends with the All Star Trailblazer, having grown up near him in Oakland California. Berry, Lillard, and a few others helped each other escape the mean streets of inner city Oakland thru basketball, playing on the same AAU teams. In fact, all of those kids at a young age made a pact with each other that they would escape the poverty and gangs of northern California thru basketball, and at least these 2 have been able to do just that.
They remain friends to this day, talking regularly, and in fact it was Lillard who helped Berry find a home at Weber State, highly recommending him to their coaching staff. Berry had fallen off the basketball map after becoming academically ineligible in high school, and was forced to go to junior college for 2 years, excelling at that level before being recruited into the lower levels of D1. Thankfully for him, Berry took advantage of his opportunity, eventually becoming the Big Sky player of the year this season and taking Weber State to the NCAA tournament, where they lost a competitive game against the highly ranked Arizona Wildcats.....keep in mind that the dynamic All Star that preceded him never got Weber to the big dance like Berry did.
In a big opportunity against a top team, Berry shot poorly but aggressively got to the rim whenever he wanted, eventually scoring 25 points in a 68-59 loss.
Let's take a look today at the little known Davion Berry:
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Berry checks in at 6'4, with a 6'6 3/4 wingspan. He has a sculptured body and is wiry and strong, weighing in at 183lbs. He reminds you very very much from a physical standpoint of our own George Hill. Playing for Weber State, Berry dominated the competition in his senior year, averaging 19.7 ppg, with 3.9 assists and nearly 4 rebounds per game from the backcourt.
I have no numbers on this, but Weber State plays at a rather slow pace compared to the rest of the country, which was exacerbated by the fact that many of their opponents wanted to slow the pace to compete with the Wildcats, so those numbers might be depressed somewhat by the relative lack of possessions in a Weber State game, at least to the eyes of this scout.
Born on November 11, 1991, Berry will turn 23 very early in the 2014-2015 season.
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By every scouting service and report, Berry is listed as a shooting guard, which makes him somewhat undersized for that position at the NBA level, which is why I think he is so lowly ranked by the so called "experts" on the internet (which admittedly, I am one also I suppose). But I am on out on a limb with Berry I guess in that when I look at him I see not a small NBA shooting guard, but I see a bigger NBA point guard if he hits his ceiling and plays in the right system and style with the right kind of players around him.
Berry is a point guard to me for a variety of reasons.
First, at least at the college level he was able to get wherever he wanted to go whenever he wanted to go there. He will definitely need to improve his handle to continue to do that, and he will especially need to be able to get lower on his dribble more consistently. At this point, quality defensive pressure would stand him up more than you'd like. But I believe all of that is fixable with work and training, and I have no doubt he will be able to do that if the organization he ends up with sees him as I do.
Secondly, the kids understands "pace". Berry is a blur in the open floor when he turns on the jets, but he isn't a "jackrabbit".....he understands when to run and when not to. A point guard who pushes the ball when the numbers are against him is just as bad as a point guard who doesn't push the ball at all.....Berry makes good decisions and has good instincts when it comes to starting a break or setting up halfcourt offense.
Third, Berry rates to me as a very very good ballhandler in the pick and roll already. He turns the corner well, and does a very good job at going shoulder to hip around the screen and getting tight to the screener, and then turning and putting his target on the rim. He attacks in straight lines, and doesn't get "bent" at the place of the screen. He also excels at making the "pocket" pass, hitting Weber State bigs rolling to the rim with several clever passes in tight spots. They didn't always finish of course at that level, but in this regard I think the advance in competition actually helps his game instead of hurting it.
He can also make passes with either hand going in either direction, a critical skill for a high level point guard and something I always make special note of. Berry did turn the ball over more than you would like ideally, but I viewed that more as a guy trying to make a play and passing to guys below his own talent level....his turnovers to me mostly weren't due to bad decisions, but to just being slightly inaccurate or in trying to make plays happen that were there, but above the skill level of his teammates.
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As an off the dribble attacker, Berry gets where he wants to go. He has a strong wiry body with toned muscles and not a lot of projection left to his body....I doubt his body changes significantly at this point. One of the reasons he was such a good scorer in college was that he shot a ton of free throws, as he was difficult to guard in transition especially that teams were forced to foul him, where he made 83% of his free throws.
Berry has an NBA level first step off a catch, enabling him to get by people with ease at the college level he played at. While better defense will no doubt mitigate that, the ability to work on his game much more with NBA level coaches improving him will also increase that you would project. He gets low with his first step and plays in "straight lines" not stepping sideways like so many guys do but instead attacking a close out defender strongly and efficiently.
And as a shooter, Berry is very accurate, especially off the dribble. He has a pull up game that I think will translate as long as he is playing point guards instead of much bigger guys. He has really good balance, gets above average elevation, and shows deep range beyond the college line already. I think you won't mind Berry having to create a jump shot in emergency situations up against the shot clock.
Weber State played his a 2 man when they weren't using him to push the ball in transition or using him in an early ballscreen situation. Coming off screens in a catch and shoot, he is able to turn and get good balance and footwork, with quick elevation after the catch. Berry is NOT a guy who seems to be able to "square in the air" though, but he is accurate when is able to beat the defense enough to square up as the ball is coming to him. So I'd rate this skill as not elite but still something that is handy to have.
It is relatively clear to me that as an NBA "2 guard" that Berry isn't quite good enough, big enough, explosive enough to be anything more than a last man on the bench kind of guy, but since I like him as a potential point guard only, I likely rate him higher than most would and do.
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That previous paragraph is even more true to me when you try and scout his defensive abilities.
Berry is an average to slightly above average on the ball defender. He gets engaged, gets low in his stance, and moves his feet well side to side....his slide is effective and he has (again) good balance. He doesn't have particularly active hands though, and even more bothersome is that his interest level seems to wane from time to time. Then again....guys with huge offensive burdens often tend to rest a bit defensively in college. He certainly isn't the only guy I've studied who does that, and many of those guys I am referring to will be top 20 picks. Berry seems passible as an on ball defender, but he will need work in that area still.
Away from the ball though, Berry gets out of his stance way too easily. He is not a guy who seemed particularly interested in running through screens or multiple actions to guard, and he didn't contest shots all that well. As an NBA 2 guard I shudder to think at what many of these guys could do to him on that end of the floor.
But as a back up point guard, he would be able to guard I think well enough to stick defending players like that. He could guard a Mario Chalmers, or a Ray Felton, or a CJ Watson, and be ok I think.....but he will never be a shut down guy. But at least as a point guard he would usually have a size, length, and strength advantage.
One thing that I do think translates well, especially as a point guard, is his ability to rebound. When the ball is in the air, Berry gets energized, attacking defensive rebounds well and chasing balls down outside his area from the perimeter. While he would be too small for that to be above average enough to help him if he was an NBA 2 guard, I think as a point guard that is a nice bonus skill to have.
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So, what do I see in Davion Berry?
I see apparently a slightly different player than others do. In my mind, I see a project point guard with potential to be a plus offensive player in time. He will need to play with a franchise with a strong defensive system and a great player development program. You draft Berry, coach him well and development him the right way, and potentially I think he can be an above average offensive oriented back up point guard for you in year 2 or 3. Some time starting as a point guard in the developmental league would be ideal for him, in my view.
Or the alternative would be to draft him, send him to Europe to let him play extra minutes over there and make some money, and then bring him over in 2016 or so....similar to how we developed Antonio Davis all those years ago.
As a wing player, I do not think Berry is worth drafting. But if you see him at a relatively new full time position for him at PG, and you have patience, long term thinking, and a developmental plan, I think he can be a good NBA backup point guard in time....a 2nd unit pick and roll weapon who can spot up and make open shots, plus push the ball and get your second unit easier scoring chances. Everything would have to fall just right for him for that to happen, but that type of long term thinking is exactly what smart teams like Oklahoma City and San Antonio do, and we need to think like that as well.
Berry has worked out for several teams, and my research shows that he supposedly had strong workouts in Utah and with the Lakers, where due to cancellations by others he got to work out against first round talents. I do believe that his past helps him as far as I look at it, as he has shown a toughness and grit in having a young son already and escaping his tough circumstances and upbringing, and clearly his knowledge of the NBA has to be helped by the strong coaching he got at Weber State and with knowing Lillard so well.
I am for sure that Berry will end up being on a summer league roster somewhere for someone, but it is far from a sure thing that he will be drafted. For Indiana picking at #57, if you see Berry for what he could be, I think he makes a lot of sense to pull the trigger on him there if you don't move up. I do rate him as a 2nd round talent, much higher than others seem to, and I think he has a chance to develop if everything goes smoothly for him.
NBA comparable: Corey Joseph with a better shot
This time until next time........
Tbird
If the mention of "Weber State" is sounding alarm bells to your head, that is because Berry comes from the same college that produced NBA top point guard Damian Lillard. In fact, Berry is best friends with the All Star Trailblazer, having grown up near him in Oakland California. Berry, Lillard, and a few others helped each other escape the mean streets of inner city Oakland thru basketball, playing on the same AAU teams. In fact, all of those kids at a young age made a pact with each other that they would escape the poverty and gangs of northern California thru basketball, and at least these 2 have been able to do just that.
They remain friends to this day, talking regularly, and in fact it was Lillard who helped Berry find a home at Weber State, highly recommending him to their coaching staff. Berry had fallen off the basketball map after becoming academically ineligible in high school, and was forced to go to junior college for 2 years, excelling at that level before being recruited into the lower levels of D1. Thankfully for him, Berry took advantage of his opportunity, eventually becoming the Big Sky player of the year this season and taking Weber State to the NCAA tournament, where they lost a competitive game against the highly ranked Arizona Wildcats.....keep in mind that the dynamic All Star that preceded him never got Weber to the big dance like Berry did.
In a big opportunity against a top team, Berry shot poorly but aggressively got to the rim whenever he wanted, eventually scoring 25 points in a 68-59 loss.
Let's take a look today at the little known Davion Berry:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Berry checks in at 6'4, with a 6'6 3/4 wingspan. He has a sculptured body and is wiry and strong, weighing in at 183lbs. He reminds you very very much from a physical standpoint of our own George Hill. Playing for Weber State, Berry dominated the competition in his senior year, averaging 19.7 ppg, with 3.9 assists and nearly 4 rebounds per game from the backcourt.
I have no numbers on this, but Weber State plays at a rather slow pace compared to the rest of the country, which was exacerbated by the fact that many of their opponents wanted to slow the pace to compete with the Wildcats, so those numbers might be depressed somewhat by the relative lack of possessions in a Weber State game, at least to the eyes of this scout.
Born on November 11, 1991, Berry will turn 23 very early in the 2014-2015 season.
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By every scouting service and report, Berry is listed as a shooting guard, which makes him somewhat undersized for that position at the NBA level, which is why I think he is so lowly ranked by the so called "experts" on the internet (which admittedly, I am one also I suppose). But I am on out on a limb with Berry I guess in that when I look at him I see not a small NBA shooting guard, but I see a bigger NBA point guard if he hits his ceiling and plays in the right system and style with the right kind of players around him.
Berry is a point guard to me for a variety of reasons.
First, at least at the college level he was able to get wherever he wanted to go whenever he wanted to go there. He will definitely need to improve his handle to continue to do that, and he will especially need to be able to get lower on his dribble more consistently. At this point, quality defensive pressure would stand him up more than you'd like. But I believe all of that is fixable with work and training, and I have no doubt he will be able to do that if the organization he ends up with sees him as I do.
Secondly, the kids understands "pace". Berry is a blur in the open floor when he turns on the jets, but he isn't a "jackrabbit".....he understands when to run and when not to. A point guard who pushes the ball when the numbers are against him is just as bad as a point guard who doesn't push the ball at all.....Berry makes good decisions and has good instincts when it comes to starting a break or setting up halfcourt offense.
Third, Berry rates to me as a very very good ballhandler in the pick and roll already. He turns the corner well, and does a very good job at going shoulder to hip around the screen and getting tight to the screener, and then turning and putting his target on the rim. He attacks in straight lines, and doesn't get "bent" at the place of the screen. He also excels at making the "pocket" pass, hitting Weber State bigs rolling to the rim with several clever passes in tight spots. They didn't always finish of course at that level, but in this regard I think the advance in competition actually helps his game instead of hurting it.
He can also make passes with either hand going in either direction, a critical skill for a high level point guard and something I always make special note of. Berry did turn the ball over more than you would like ideally, but I viewed that more as a guy trying to make a play and passing to guys below his own talent level....his turnovers to me mostly weren't due to bad decisions, but to just being slightly inaccurate or in trying to make plays happen that were there, but above the skill level of his teammates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As an off the dribble attacker, Berry gets where he wants to go. He has a strong wiry body with toned muscles and not a lot of projection left to his body....I doubt his body changes significantly at this point. One of the reasons he was such a good scorer in college was that he shot a ton of free throws, as he was difficult to guard in transition especially that teams were forced to foul him, where he made 83% of his free throws.
Berry has an NBA level first step off a catch, enabling him to get by people with ease at the college level he played at. While better defense will no doubt mitigate that, the ability to work on his game much more with NBA level coaches improving him will also increase that you would project. He gets low with his first step and plays in "straight lines" not stepping sideways like so many guys do but instead attacking a close out defender strongly and efficiently.
And as a shooter, Berry is very accurate, especially off the dribble. He has a pull up game that I think will translate as long as he is playing point guards instead of much bigger guys. He has really good balance, gets above average elevation, and shows deep range beyond the college line already. I think you won't mind Berry having to create a jump shot in emergency situations up against the shot clock.
Weber State played his a 2 man when they weren't using him to push the ball in transition or using him in an early ballscreen situation. Coming off screens in a catch and shoot, he is able to turn and get good balance and footwork, with quick elevation after the catch. Berry is NOT a guy who seems to be able to "square in the air" though, but he is accurate when is able to beat the defense enough to square up as the ball is coming to him. So I'd rate this skill as not elite but still something that is handy to have.
It is relatively clear to me that as an NBA "2 guard" that Berry isn't quite good enough, big enough, explosive enough to be anything more than a last man on the bench kind of guy, but since I like him as a potential point guard only, I likely rate him higher than most would and do.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That previous paragraph is even more true to me when you try and scout his defensive abilities.
Berry is an average to slightly above average on the ball defender. He gets engaged, gets low in his stance, and moves his feet well side to side....his slide is effective and he has (again) good balance. He doesn't have particularly active hands though, and even more bothersome is that his interest level seems to wane from time to time. Then again....guys with huge offensive burdens often tend to rest a bit defensively in college. He certainly isn't the only guy I've studied who does that, and many of those guys I am referring to will be top 20 picks. Berry seems passible as an on ball defender, but he will need work in that area still.
Away from the ball though, Berry gets out of his stance way too easily. He is not a guy who seemed particularly interested in running through screens or multiple actions to guard, and he didn't contest shots all that well. As an NBA 2 guard I shudder to think at what many of these guys could do to him on that end of the floor.
But as a back up point guard, he would be able to guard I think well enough to stick defending players like that. He could guard a Mario Chalmers, or a Ray Felton, or a CJ Watson, and be ok I think.....but he will never be a shut down guy. But at least as a point guard he would usually have a size, length, and strength advantage.
One thing that I do think translates well, especially as a point guard, is his ability to rebound. When the ball is in the air, Berry gets energized, attacking defensive rebounds well and chasing balls down outside his area from the perimeter. While he would be too small for that to be above average enough to help him if he was an NBA 2 guard, I think as a point guard that is a nice bonus skill to have.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, what do I see in Davion Berry?
I see apparently a slightly different player than others do. In my mind, I see a project point guard with potential to be a plus offensive player in time. He will need to play with a franchise with a strong defensive system and a great player development program. You draft Berry, coach him well and development him the right way, and potentially I think he can be an above average offensive oriented back up point guard for you in year 2 or 3. Some time starting as a point guard in the developmental league would be ideal for him, in my view.
Or the alternative would be to draft him, send him to Europe to let him play extra minutes over there and make some money, and then bring him over in 2016 or so....similar to how we developed Antonio Davis all those years ago.
As a wing player, I do not think Berry is worth drafting. But if you see him at a relatively new full time position for him at PG, and you have patience, long term thinking, and a developmental plan, I think he can be a good NBA backup point guard in time....a 2nd unit pick and roll weapon who can spot up and make open shots, plus push the ball and get your second unit easier scoring chances. Everything would have to fall just right for him for that to happen, but that type of long term thinking is exactly what smart teams like Oklahoma City and San Antonio do, and we need to think like that as well.
Berry has worked out for several teams, and my research shows that he supposedly had strong workouts in Utah and with the Lakers, where due to cancellations by others he got to work out against first round talents. I do believe that his past helps him as far as I look at it, as he has shown a toughness and grit in having a young son already and escaping his tough circumstances and upbringing, and clearly his knowledge of the NBA has to be helped by the strong coaching he got at Weber State and with knowing Lillard so well.
I am for sure that Berry will end up being on a summer league roster somewhere for someone, but it is far from a sure thing that he will be drafted. For Indiana picking at #57, if you see Berry for what he could be, I think he makes a lot of sense to pull the trigger on him there if you don't move up. I do rate him as a 2nd round talent, much higher than others seem to, and I think he has a chance to develop if everything goes smoothly for him.
NBA comparable: Corey Joseph with a better shot
This time until next time........
Tbird
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