June 16, 2014
DAVIS, Calif. - Butler transfer Nolan Berry is the newest member of UC Davis men's basketball and will join the Aggies beginning this summer, head coach Jim Les announced on Monday.
"Nolan is an extremely skilled and versatile big man who possesses an excellent feel for the game. He can play inside and out on offense, and is a good rebounder and shot blocker on the defensive end," said Les.
"He is a quality student-athlete who will be a great ambassador for our program, both on and off the floor."
After considering potential opportunities with various East Coast and Midwest programs, Berry felt that UC Davis provided the perfect opportunity to pursue a degree at a prestigious academic institution, and the best fit for his athletic skill set.
"The school, and the city of Davis are two reasons why I chose the Aggies," said Berry. "The team's playing style and the comfort level I had with the coaching staff strongly influenced my decision."
Due to NCAA transfer rules and regulations, Berry will not compete for UC Davis until the start of the 2015-16 season and will have three years of eligibility remaining. However, the native of St. Louis, Mo., can join his new teammates later this summer when everyone reports to campus for official preseason practices.
Berry, a 6-10 power forward, joins all-Ohio guard Isaiah Walton, City College of San Francisco playmaker Josh Fox and Salt Lake Community College All-American Neal Monson as the members of UC Davis' incoming class of 2014.
A three-star recruit in high school, Berry competed in 18 games for the Bulldogs as a freshman. Known for his rare combination of size, skill and feel for the game, Butler's skilled forward often influenced the game on the defensive end of the court.
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at De Smet High School, Berry ended his high school career as the program's No. 2 all-time scorer. Upon graduation, he was ranked No. 26 among all power forwards and No. 120 in the nation overall by Rivals.com; Scout.com listed Berry as its No. 22 power forward overall.
In addition to receiving All-State first team recognition on three occasions, the Metro Catholic Conference also honored Berry with first team honors in his final three years. A second team All-Metro selection as a sophomore, he earned a spot on the first team in his junior and senior seasons.
In his final year at De Smet, Berry averaged 20.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.38 blocks per game and shot an outstanding .579 percent from the field. Those head-turning numbers were posted after Berry averaged a near double-double with 19.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks as a junior and 18.4/6.6/2.5 as a sophomore.
Besides leading De Smet to three consecutive District championships, Berry helped his team capture a state runner-up finish as a senior. Throughout his three seasons as a starter, he scored 30 or more points four times, earned 20 or more in 38 games and helped his team win a collective 67 games.
Berry is the latest member of his family to play basketball at the Division I level; his grandfather, "Easy" Ed Macauley, competed at Saint Louis University prior to his 10-year NBA career.
