Amherst, N.Y. - They say "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," but Gerald Beverly is hoping his experience there next month can lead him to new professional opportunities. The former star of the Daemen College men's basketball team is headed to Sin City as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2017 National Basketball Association (NBA) Summer League which runs from July 7-17 with games at Cox Pavilion and the Thomas and Mack Center, both on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
A report posted to cleveland.com late last week listed Beverly as one of the Cavs' summer league invitees, joining Kay Felder, Edy Tavares, Brandon Paul, Casey Prather, Grant Jerrett, Roosevelt Jones and undrafted rookie Andrew White III out of Syracuse. The 6-foot-8, 235-pound Beverly will become the first Daemen alum to participate in the NBA Summer League which brings together players selected in last week's NBA Draft as well as prospects who may or may not be under contract with any particular franchise.
"I am beyond excited for the opportunity to play in the NBA Summer League," said Beverly who spent the 2016-17 season playing for the Canton Charge - Cleveland's NBA Developmental League affiliate. "I came close to an invite out of school, but it didn't pan out. Last summer I was rehabbing from an injury so I couldn't go, but this year I'm truly grateful for the opportunity. I want to go out there and showcase what I can do, maybe turn some heads and show that I can play at that level."
A record 24 NBA franchises will send teams to compete in this year's summer league which features three preliminary games for each team before taking on a tournament-style format. Eight of the top 10 picks from the 2017 NBA Draft are scheduled to participate. Of the 67 total games to be played, 63 will be broadcast on linear channels across the ESPN family of networks and NBA TV. Beverly and the Cavs open play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m. (ET) with the game scheduled for broadcast on ESPN2.
Beverly appeared in 40 regular season games for Canton this past season, averaging 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game, while shooting 59.2 percent from the field. He caught up with daemenwildcats.com last month for a retrospective look at his first season of stateside professional basketball after beginning his pro career overseas.
A 2015 Daemen graduate, Beverly left as one of the school's all-time greats. He's one of only two players in team history to score more than 1,000 points and grab more than 1,000 rebounds. He ranks fifth all-time in total points (1,799), second in total rebounds (1,004) and first in total blocks (330). He was also a two-time East Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year selection, while also earning first-team All-ECC honors in both his junior and senior seasons. He was also named the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Most Outstanding Player for the 2014-15 season which culminated in him leading the Wildcats to the USCAA national championship in the final year of the team's transition to full NCAA Division II membership. Over his four-year career, Beverly helped Daemen to an 89-34 record.
Tickets for the 2017 NBA Summer League are on sale now and can be purchased at NBATickets.com.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - 2017 NBA SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE (times are ET)
Friday, July 7
6:30 PM - Cleveland vs. Milwaukee - ESPN2
Saturday, July 8
10:00 PM - Cleveland vs. Houston - ESPNU
Monday, July 10
8:30 PM - Cleveland vs. Golden State - NBA TV
Seeds 9-24 will play in 8 games at the below times and locations:
Cox Pavilion: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Thomas & Mack: 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 13
Seeds 1-8 will play against the winners of July 13 games at the below times and locations:
Cox Pavilion: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Thomas & Mack: 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 14
Losers from games on July 13 and July 14 will play at the below times and locations:
Cox Pavilion: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. (ESPN Family of Networks)
Thomas & Mack: 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Saturday, July 15 - Quarterfinals
Winners from games on July 14 will play at the below times:
Thomas & Mack: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. (ESPN2/ EPSNU)
Sunday, July 16 - Semifinals
Winners from games on July 16 will play at the below times:
Thomas & Mack: 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Monday, July 17 – Championship
Winners from games on July 17 will play at the below time:
Thomas & Mack: 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Provided by the Daemen Sports Information Department.
