The Los Angeles Lakers have added another piece to their backcourt by signing guard Joel Berry II out of UNC.
Even though there was a slim chance that he could have been picked in the second round, Berry went undrafted in April. Further hurting his chances was the fact that he did not participate in the NBA Summer League, but clearly, the Lakers saw enough of his college career to warrant them giving him a contract.
#Lakers sign guard Joel Berry II. North Carolina product who was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Final Four in 2017
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) July 19, 2018
As a junior, Berry led UNC to a college championship just one year after being a key cog in a team that had made it all the way to the Final Four. He won Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 Final Four in the championship run and was the emotional plug of the Tar Heel team, fighting through injury to stay on the floor.
Berry left UNC with college career averages of 12.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 42 percent from the floor in 144 games after spending all four years with the Tar Heels.
Over the years, Berry has built a reputation as a hard-nosed and scrappy guard, always willing to give it all on the floor and not take plays off. Although he is undersized at only six feet tall, he makes up for his lack of height with hustle and heart.
Since the Lakers have built up depth at the point guard position with Lonzo Ball, Rajon Rondo, and Alex Caruso, it is hard to see Berry carving out consistent playing time barring injuries to the two players ahead of him.
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