Introducing: Jared Berry (2022), Lake Highland Prep

<p><strong>Joel Berry II</strong> was a Parade All-American at Lake Highland Prep in Orlando before going on to star at the University of North Carolina.</p> <p>He was the first player in Florida high school history to win the Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball award three times in his prep career (2011-2014).</p> <p>Now, it's younger brother <strong>Jared Berry</strong>'s turn to step into the spotlight.</p> <p>The talented 5-foot-8 point guard played in 13 games as a fre<span style="font-size: 1rem;">shman at Lake Highland Prep and looks to take the next step in his progression in 2019-2020. I caught up with Jared at the FGCU high school team camp.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I just had to get like used to the physicality because, you know, I am obviously the smallest player on the court," Berry said of his first season on the varsity level. "And also just discipline about running plays and getting the right shots for my teammates."</span></p> <p>Berry is quick and does an excellent job getting his squad into the right plays. He can drive it to the basket or distribute the basketball for open shots. Berry averaged 8 points a game as a ninth-grader.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Still very young, still learning the game, still maturing," said his father and LHP assistant coach <strong>Joel Berry Sr.</strong> "You can tell he is just naturally athletic. But as far as the game, he still has a lot to learn. You can see where he has a lot of upside. The skill, the athletic ability, the shooting and everything, he has some improvement to do. But one thing he does, he has a lot of heart. He plays with a lot of heart. He loves the game and enjoys playing the game."</span></p> <p>Jared is one of five children in the Berry family.</p> <p>Sixteen-year-old Jared grew up watching Joel play hoops at a high level. Joel Berry II, now 23, plays with the NBA G-League's South Bay Lakers.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"He’s always watched him play and Joel still gives him pointers a lot," said Joel Berry Sr.. "But there was such a big gap to where a lot of times when Joel was playing he was just young, didn’t really understand the game. He was just there watching. And my oldest daughters, they play also. My oldest daughter coaches at Rollins College and my middle daughter she played at Brevard Community College. So he’s just been around basketball all his life."</span></p> <p>Berry is part of a lineup for coach<strong> Ben Fratrik</strong> that includes 2020 <strong>Victor Brown,</strong> 2022 <strong>Brice Sensabaugh</strong> and 2023 <strong>Sean Stewart</strong>. Brown -- the team's best defender -- has interest from FGCU, Bethune-Cookman and Embry-Riddle. Sensabaugh comes over from Oviedo Hagerty, where he averaged 15 points a game as a ninths-grader.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I love to distribute for other people and get my teammates open shots," Berry said. "I really love driving to the hole, shoot and get my teammates the right shots."</span></p> <h4>Football All-American</h4> <p>Joel Berry Sr. played <span style="font-weight: 400;">varsity football, basketball and track back in the day at Orlando Oak Ridge. He was an adidas All-American at fullback in football.</span></p> <p>"<span style="font-weight: 400;">I got a scholarship to play at the University of Central Florida," the elder Berry said. "That year Emmitt Smith and I ... <strong>Emmitt Smith</strong>, <strong>Edgar Bennett</strong>, all of us came out [of high school]."</span></p> <p>As for his kids, Joel Sr. said: "<span style="font-weight: 400;">I played football, but I loved basketball. And I really never wanted them to play football."</span></p> <p><em>If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via Twitter at @PLamRecruiting or via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com</em></p>