The North Carolina Tar Heels are losing a handful of players to graduation and the NBA this season, but they are certainly getting a good bit of their core players back for the 2016-17 season. One of those players returning is rising junior Joel Berry II.
It was reported on Friday that Berry would return for his junior season after having a great showing for the Tar Heels this year. His father, Joel Berry Sr., spoke with scout.com and said it was a pretty easy decision for him.
BREAKING: Joel Berry returning to #UNC, aiming to return to Final Four. Story: https://t.co/cnsCNFpW0Q pic.twitter.com/ak89SMgAsk
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) April 8, 2016
“We talked briefly about what he wanted to do and I always told him ‘Don’t rush the journey,’ Berry Sr. said. “That had always been his plan (to return), even if he had a great season.”
The Tar Heels got to the Final Four for the first time since 2009 this year and fell to the Villanova Wildcats on a last-second buzzer beater in the national championship game. Berry’s father talked about him wanting to help North Carolina get back to the Final Four.
“He wasn’t discouraged over the loss,” Berry Sr. said. “He’s just excited to be able to make it to the Final Four and do it again now that he sees it’s possible. It’s so hard to make it to the Final Four and once you see that goal is possible, you come back to the gym and work hard.
“He’s looking forward to getting back to working out over the summer and come back and try to do it again. I was happy to hear him say that, because that’s one of his goals, to get to the Final Four and win a championship, not just get there.”
During his sophomore season, he averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds and was named the ACC Tournament MVP. He also scored 20 points in the national championship game.
Berry joins Justin Jackson, Nate Britt, Theo Pinson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks as the core rotation players returning for next season. It is pretty safe to say that the Tar Heels should be a contender next season.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
