UNC Basketball: Joel Berry II 2016-2017 Season Review

We break down the season that point guard Joel Berry had for the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2016-17

The heart and soul of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Joel Berry led the program to its sixth National Championship with zero healthy ankles.

Berry, who came into Carolina as the number 17th ranked high school prospect, has been a major reason for the success these last two seasons.

The 6-foot point guard will forever be remembered, as his number will hang from the rafters in the Dean Dome.

Season Breakdown

Berry struggled with nagging injuries a lot of the year but still managed to average 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists a game.

The junior guard came into the year with the keys to the car and didn’t disappoint.

He got off to a scorching hot start to the year scoring 20+ points in four of the first seven games as well as being one of the most productive guards in all of America.

After a couple down weeks, including two missed games due to an ankle injury, Berry returned to have a career-high 31 points against Clemson to lead the Heels to an overtime victory.

After struggling in the first game against Duke, he redeemed himself in game two with 28 points in a Carolina victory to seal sole possession of first place in the ACC.

Berry averaged 13.8 points and 3.2 assists in the NCAA Tournament including a 22 point, 6 assist performance in the National Championship game that gave him Final Four MOP honors.

There were multiple games this year, even when he didn’t have his A-game, that he willed the Tar Heels to victory.

Nobody was tougher in college basketball than Berry.

Apr 4, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) speaks during the North Carolina Celebration at The Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Suzie Wolf-USA TODAY Sports /

Future

As the NBA Draft entry deadline approaches, April 24th, Berry has a decision to make. Enter his name in the draft with/without an agent, or returning to school right away and not going through the combine process.

If I were to guess, Berry will enter the draft without an agent, giving him the opportunity to return to school for his senior year.

Related Story: Who Stays? Who Goes?

Currently, Berry is not projected to get drafted in any mock drafts, but some say that at this time is when his stock will be at the highest.

I disagree.

Even though he had a great year this past year, just like Justin Jackson from a year ago, he was very inconsistent.

If Berry were to return, he would be doing so to become more consistent as a scorer and shooter, a better distributor and try to work on his quickness.

With next year’s draft class much less stacked than this year’s, Berry has the potential to be a late first rounder.

Only time will tell when it comes to Berry’s decision. He has given Carolina fans so much in three years, I just hope we get another year out of #2.

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