Former Hog hopes to make point to NBA

FAYETTEVILLE In his two seasons at Arkansas, Patrick Beverley had a reputation for being a hard-nosed shooting guard who fought for rebounds, knocked down long-range shots and created points with his defense.

In the past eight months, the former Razorback and 2007 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year has been working hard to convince NBA coaches and scouts he's something else, too: A point guard.

Beverley, who left Arkansas after being suspended for the 2008-09 season, is now hoping to find his way into the NBA after playing one season in the Ukraine.

To do so, the 6-foot-2 Beverley knows he must convince teams he can play the point. It's no simple feat considering Beverley played off the ball at Arkansas.

"In the beginning, it definitely was a learning process," Beverley said. "Me learning how to run a team, me learning when to go and when not to go. Already I was a great scorer, a great rebounder and defender.

"So now I'm learning how to run a team."

The process began when he left Arkansas in August after being suspended for an academic violation (Beverley has admitted to turning in a paper that someone else had written). He hired Bernie Lee as his agent, signed a contract to play for Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk and began his professional career.

It's an unusual route to the NBA Draft, but Beverley believes the experience was valuable. His team was coached by former NBA assistant Bob Donewald, Jr. He also played alongside Devin Green, who spent part of the 2005-06 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Beverley averaged 16.7 points, 7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 46 games. The 20-year-old said working in a foreign country not only helped improve his overall game, it made him mature off the court as well.

"It was really different being that no one really spoke any English," Beverley said. "But it was better than what I thought. I enjoyed it a lot and it was a learning process for me. I think it's really helped me to go out there."

Beverley, who had a one-year deal with the Ukrainian team, has returned to the United States and recently worked out for the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. A group workout in Minnesota, in which several teams are expected to attend, is scheduled for Monday.

There's another chance to make a big impression beginning June 6, when he participates in the three-day Reebok Eurocamp 2009 in Treviso, Italy.

"For Pat, the biggest thing will be being classified as a basketball player," said Lee, who owns and operates Lee Basketball Services, Ltd. "As long as you can have him on the floor and he doesn't hurt you by being at that position and he's functional from the standpoint of getting your team into things, he's a point guard."

Beverley's inclusion in the NBA Draft pool has generated some buzz with draft experts.

ESPN.com's Chad Ford wrote that Beverley could be a draft "sleeper" if he can "convince teams he can play the point." DraftExpress.com lists Beverley as the draft's 20th-best point guard and the former Razorback has "left an impression" during his workouts in Chicago.

But Ryan Blake, who is the assistant director of scouting for the NBA, said Beverley still has much to prove before landing on an NBA roster, though.

"I think he does have a difficult road," Blake said. "I think this is a difficult draft. We're pretty inundated with point guards. ... Whether or not he gets drafted in the second round or (added) as a free agent, I think it will still be tough. There's just not many spots available."

Lee said being drafted is the immediate goal for his client. But going undrafted wouldn't be deemed a failure because there are other ways to land in the NBA.

"It's more about ending up somewhere where he's going to be given the opportunity to grow and improve a little bit," Lee said. "Let's see what happens in this draft, but over the next couple of years in Pat's life and career he's going to get the opportunity to be evaluated as an NBA player. That's more what he should be focused on."

Beverley said his circuitous route to the draft this season isn't necessarily one he would've selected because he loved playing college basketball. But he's trying to make the most of his opportunity.

"If it wouldn't have happened, who knows, I might've had a breakout season at Arkansas," Beverley said of his suspension. "You really don't know what would've happened. I was fortunate that my agent and his staff have done a great job to put me in the right situation."