FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas guard Patrick Beverley finally will get a chance to play in the NBA, more than four years after the end of his Razorbacks career.
Beverley, a 6-1 guard, has signed a three-year deal with the Houston Rockets after passing a team physical. He is coming to Houston from Russia, where he averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Spartak St. Petersburg this season.
“You have to give him credit,” Beverley’s agent, Kevin Bradbury, told The Sporting News. “He never gave up. There was never a woe-is me moment from him. He has always just said, ‘OK, what do I have to do to get to the NBA?’ ”
Beverley, 24, signed a three-year, $3 million contract with Spartak last season but was released with an $850,000 buyout. Houston was able to pay only $500,00 of the buyout under NBA rules, so Beverley had to cover the remaining $350,000.
Beverley played two seasons at Arkansas, averaging 13.9 points and 4.5 rebounds in 2006-2007 and 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds in 2007-2008. He played for Arkansas’ last two teams to make the NCAA Tournament.
Beverley was set to return to Arkansas for his junior season but was declared academically ineligible and signed with a pro team in the Ukraine. He was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 NBA Draft and was traded to the Miami Heat, who released him before the 2009-2010 season.
Beverley played for a pro team in Greece before signing with Sparktak, where he was selected as Eurocup MVP last season.
Sports, Pages 22 on 01/05/2013