Why Miami transfer Harlond Beverly picked Wichita State and how he fits with Shockers
Harlond Beverly never forgot that feeling of receiving his first Division I scholarship offer to play college basketball.
It was almost six years ago, but Beverly still remembers hearing from Paul Mills, who had just been hired as the head coach of Oral Roberts, to receive his first offer in the summer before his junior season of high school in the suburbs of Detroit.
Beverly ended up being recruited by some of the top programs in the country as a top-55 recruit nationally, ultimately picking Miami from an impressive list of suitors that included Michigan State, Kansas, Indiana and Georgia, but Mills reaching out first has always left an impression on him.
“That’s something that you never forget,” Beverly said.
When Mills accepted the job at Wichita State, then hired Quincy Acy, a former NBA player-turned-coach who was familiar with Beverly through summer pickup games, Beverly was intrigued by the situation that also featured the potential for more playing time.
Beverly was only in the transfer portal for a little more than 24 hours before committing to Wichita State without an official visit.
“It’s very exciting to be a part of something new,” said Beverly in a telephone interview from Miami. “When a new coach gets hired, they bring a culture to the new school and the chance to be on his first team and help him build that is something I definitely was interested in. That’s something very special and I have a lot of trust in coach Mills and I’m excited to see where this goes.”
Beverly, a 6-foot-6 wing, was just beginning to hit his stride at Miami during his sophomore season — averaging 6.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals on top of superb defense — when a back injury flared up, costing him the final eight games of the season.
He never fully recovered from the injury, which lingered and ultimately shut Beverly down after just five games in the 2021-22 season. He underwent a back surgery procedure on Jan. 11, 2022.
It took time for Beverly to adjust to playing after such a significant surgery, but he managed to return and carve out a reserve role on a Miami team that reached its first Final Four in program history. He averaged 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 12.2 minutes per game, but the statistic he was most proud about was playing in all 37 games.
“I’m more than a year out from my surgery now, so I’m all the way back to 100%,” Beverly said. “I didn’t have to miss any practices. I didn’t miss any games. I don’t have any aches or pains anymore. I don’t have to do any rehab for my back. So I’m definitely feeling 100% again.”
In limited minutes, Beverly showed flashes that are encouraging for a potentially expanded role with the Shockers. Perhaps the most favorable was his 68% shooting at the rim this past season, which translated to 1.39 points per possession and ranking in the 89th percentile nationally, per Synergy, an impressive feat for a wing. He also was able to convert when he was fouled attacking the rim, making 80% of his free throws.
Those are two traits that Mills pointed out in his statement after Beverly officially signed with the Shockers last week.
“Harlond is a gifted player and a tremendous leader,” Mills said. “He is an elite finisher, as demonstrated by his 67% two-point field goal percentage against tough ACC competition and he gets to the free throw line at a remarkable rate.
“However, the area where Shocker fans will see his abilities shine through the most is on the defensive end. He’s a versatile guy who can guard multiple positions and he has an intense desire to compete. He impacts the game in so many ways through his effort and rebounding.”
Beverly showed a knack for timing when to jump passing routes on the wings with bursts of quickness, which he also used to fill lanes on fast breaks and dive in for easy dunks and layups. He was by far at his most effective in transition, where he scored 1.38 points per shot, per Synergy.
He mostly guarded primary ball handlers or chased shooters around the perimeter at Miami, which he will likely do at WSU as well, but the Shockers could employ him as a small-ball power forward in some lineups as well.
“I knew growing up that if you play defense, you get to stay on the court,” Beverly said. “And if you score more points than the other team, you win. So I try my best to stop them from scoring. That’s what I take pride in.”
Beverly is by no means a sharpshooter, but he did take a step in the right direction in his return from injury with his three-point stroke. After shooting 19% on three-pointers in his first three years at Miami, Beverly knocked down 32% of his 41 three-point attempts for the Hurricanes this past season.
Although he didn’t see the same extent of game action as he did before his injury, Beverly said this past season at Miami was an enjoyable journey.
“It was honestly a great opportunity to be a part of something special,” Beverly said. “A lot of people, players, coaches don’t ever get the chance to make it to the Final Four. So to be a part of something that big was really awesome.”
Beverly said he is finishing up an internship at Miami and will likely head to Wichita in early June to join the team. He hopes to take an official visit to WSU in the next two weeks.
“I didn’t know much about (WSU) before, but I do know they have a super rich basketball history,” Beverly said. “I’m honestly just happy to get a fresh, new start and I’m excited to learn from my new coaches and get out to Wichita as soon as possible.”
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
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