Beau Beech, guard
2015-2016: 31.8 MPG, 15.4 PPG, 2.0 APG, 6.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, .455 FG%, 425 FG%, .788 FT%, 34 G
Who is Beau Beech?
If we’re this far into the fall and you don’t know who Beau Beech is yet, then I clearly haven’t done my job. If you’ve read any of my Nets-related tweets, recaps, or random threads since June, there’s a high likelihood that the former Osprey was name-dropped as much as possible — but, if I’ve failed you thus far, please give me the opportunity to win back your trust.
Beech is a 6’8 guard from the University of Northern Florida and a rookie that went unselected in June’s NBA Draft. After a promising Summer League stint with the Nets — most notably his 15-point outburst against the Cleveland Cavaliers — he was signed to a partially guaranteed one-year deal. While he’s not your prototypical 3 and D prospect, there’s promise lingering about Beech. Funnily enough, Beech wasn’t a Division 1 stat-stuffer like Egidijus Mockevicius, nor was he a star by college basketball standards like Yogi Ferrell was.
No, Beech averaged a modest 15 points per game in 2015-2016 on UNF and they were eliminated in the NIT’s first round.
So, then, why is he on the Nets? Perhaps it’s because of his lightning quick and fluid release, somewhat reminiscent of Kyle Korver, and, of course, because the Nets are still desperate for the type of dead-eye killer from three that wins basketball games.
With Beech, you may just have that down the road.
2015-2016 Recap:
Last season, the Ospreys went 22-12 in the Atlantic Sun Conference, but it wasn’t good enough to secure the same NCAA First Four berth they earned in 2014-2015. Beech, a four-year senior, was not even the squad’s top scorer — no, that honor goes to Dallas Moore and his 19.8 points per game average. What Beech did excel at, however, was his ability to fire up three-pointers at will, shooting an average of 6.7 attempts per game over the last two seasons.
In 2015-2016, Beech ranked 29th in three-point percentage and 36th in three-pointers per game, but only ranked 58th in attempts.
Beech promised his former head coach that he’d play in the NBA, so while he didn’t feature in last night’s preseason game he is, at the very least, on the cusp of fulfilling his major guarantee. However, it’s that issue of stickability in question for Beech as his game is clearly tailored to a potentially useful role in the league — but can they find room?
Will he make the Nets?
As of now, today, October 7th, 2016, barring any Jimmer Fredette-lite preseason explosions, then Beech will find himself on the Long Island Nets this season. Atkinson has extensive experience with shooters like the aforementioned Korver and Steve Novak, so bringing him along slowly could prove worthwhile down the road. Beech’s blasts of three-point barrages were easily some of the best highlights from Summer League and that type of microwave shooting could be a huge asset for a team trying to make a late fourth quarter run.
The fans don’t hype him like they’ve done Jeremy Lin, but it seems as if there’s potential here for the Nets to develop another cult-like hero from off the end of the bench. However, with options like Sean Kilpatrick, Chase Budinger, and Joe Harris now, presumably, ahead of Beech in the pecking order, he’ll need to prove himself in the D-League before they’ll see him again.
And that’s perfectly fine.
The Beech Highlight Reel Theater:
Beau Beech looks and plays like the basketballing-version of Jay Cutler — but the only difference is that he slings swishes from deep instead of crucial 3rd down inceptions in the 4th quarter.
The Bottom Line:
For now, Beech is destined for the D-League, but as the Troy Daniels and Anthony Morrows of this world have proved before, if you can shoot, you’ve got a chance to stick around in this league. With Atkinson, the guard whisperer, now at the helm of the Nets, it’ll be interesting to see if they can build Beech into a more complete player. Currently, he’s a defensive liability, so his supreme shooting marks lose a bit of its luster. Undrafted shooters are a dime-a-dozen out of collegiate ball, but it’ll be up to Beech to prove that he’s worth an eventual roster spot.
Seeing as his bold guarantee to make the league is nearly complete, I’m not sure if I’d bet against Beech on this one.
The Brooklyn Game Player Previews: Jorge Gutiérrez, Egidijus Mockevicius, Yogi Ferrell, Chase Budinger
