Joel Berry

McDonald’s All-American Recap: Berry was once again steady running the point. He kept his ground under pressure in the half court, and fed teammates in their spots—whether it was guards curling around screens, or bigs calling for it in the post. He pushes the ball in transition, with the ability to pass ahead or run the break himself. Berry is not a great offensive threat, but he has a strong frame to penetrate, and can knock down the open 3-pointer on occasion.

That being said, Berry’s 6-foot frame, and lack of athleticism/speed really limits him. He noticeably struggled on defense—stronger guards took him off the dribble, and taller guards shot over him. If Berry had the lateral quickness and length of, say, Ryan Boatright, I’d say he could become a solid, “pesky” defender. But he’s not as athletic or quick.

Berry is a solid floor general, but as the competition gets bigger, faster and stronger, I think he will struggle.

McDonald’s All-American Preview / Nike Global Challenge 2013:

Berry is a poised point guard who calmly surveys the defense then attacks. He has a high basketball IQ, and combined with a tight handle and great body control, he can make plays in the lane. Simply put, Berry is a winner who gets the job done on the high school level.

That said, he lacks size and quickness, and therefore I suspect Berry will struggle against bigger/faster players in college. I like his game management skills, but I still have reservations about his long-term potential. Berry is diminutive, and limited vertically and horizontally.