His twitter handle is @RealDealBeal23, and Florida Gators recruit Brad Beal is one of the most complete high school players in the 2011 class. He is already a top ten prospect in our 2012 NBA Mock Draft and a big reason why Florida figures to be highly ranked in the 2011-2012 pre-season polls.
(This is a Paul M. Banks/David Kay collaboration.)
Beal will arrive in Gainesville with an already lengthy and impressive resume. He was named the 2011 Gatorade Player of the Year, Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year back-to-back years, and recently played in the Jordan Brand Classic. However, it was his inclusion in the McDonald’s All-American Game that Beal considers to be his crown jewel. “This is really at the top of my achievements,” Beal said at the MAA media day. “Being named and able to play in this game with a bunch of top players in my class is really an honor. There’s thousands of kids sitting at home wishing they could be in our position.”
All the honors were well-deserved as Beal averaged 32.5 points per game during his senior year at Chaminade College Prep School in St. Louis, Missouri. The 6-4 shooting guard showed off his versatility as a scorer by accounting for seven of the East’s first 11 points in the McDonald’s All-American game with an aggressive take to the basket, spot-up three, and tip-in on the offensive glass.
A pure scorer in every sense of the word, it is easy to see why Beal draws comparisons to and patterns his game after NBA shooting guards, Eric Gordon and Ray Allen, who also happens to star in his favorite movie, He Got Game. “They both shoot great, but also move well without the ball and attack the rim.”
While Beal acknowledges his ability to shoot the rock as his greatest strength, he also understands the importance of getting after it on the other end of the floor. “A lot of people underestimate my defensive ability. I believe I can guard just about anyone if I put my mind to it.”
Beal spent a lot of his time at the MAA and Jordan game guarding Austin Rivers who originally committed to Florida but changed his mind and is instead heading to Duke. Unlike Rivers, Beal held his early pledge to the Gators which he made prior to his junior season of high school. “The style of play, it’s a very guard-oriented school,” Beal stated when explaining why he chose Florida. “Coach Donavan lets his players get up and down. He lets his guards shoot the three. It’s a great pick and roll system, allows me to create for the other guys.”
With Florida returning their starting backcourt of Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton, and the addition of Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario, it will be interesting to see how Donnovan plans to work all four guards into a rotation. Walker, Boynton, and Rosario all have the M.O. of being gunners with questionable shot selection, but Beal is simply too talented not to get his share of minutes and touches.
The Gators do lose their starting frontcourt of Vernon Macklin, Alex Tyus, and Chandler Parsons so expect Donovan to utilize a three-guard, even a four-guard look at times while the physical, athletic Patric Young patrols the paint. Whatever the case may be, expect Beal to become a huge part of what Florida tries to do next season.
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
He does a regular guest spot each week for Chicagoland Sports Radio.com You can follow him on Twitter @thesportsbank
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