The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1306549
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 ■ 29 Year one at NC State was just the first of what seems to have become annual adver- sity for Beverly. He broke his hand during the preseason before his sophomore year, and then last year Beverly had to battle a nagging back injury. He would routinely stand up at the end of the bench during games when not playing. That made last season probably the most difficult. "It was really stressful," Beverly admit- ted, "and really aggravating." Beverly slimmed down this offseason in an attempt to help his back hold up better, and with the adversity he has already con- quered he is ready for anything. Beverly can remember that moment he re- alized he had made his dream come true of playing big-time college basketball in the ACC. The Wolfpack was being drubbed by Notre Dame on the road in what would be a 30-point loss on Jan. 3, 2018, and he was going against a player that he had actually studied in the Fighting Irish's Matt Far- rell, a third-team All-ACC pick and Notre Dame's MVP that season. "I think I kind of play similarly to him, in terms of outside shot, being smart and just playing hard," he noted. The ultimate dream- come-true moment was his sophomore year against Clemson, when he nailed a buzzer-beating three-pointer for a dramatic win at PNC Arena. "As a kid, I always dreamed about playing on ESPN for some college and hitting a game-winning shot," Beverly said. "I would always countdown out loud and then shoot the shot. "When I was a kid, that was one big thing I always wished and hoped that I'd be able to do — have the opportunity on a big stage. Thankfully, it actually came true." Beverly has been chasing those dreams his entire life, and a little ad- versity along the way has only made him stronger as he enters his senior season. "Going through those obstacles has definitely helped me in terms of being a leader this year," Beverly noted. ■