Beekman hunting more shots, becoming a better leader heading into senior year

By Jerry Ratcliffe

We’re only days away from seeing the best version of Reece Beekman, Virginia’s senior point guard, the returning ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

What a celebration there must have been in the basketball office at JPJ back in the summer when Beekman made an 11th-hour decision to return to school, rather than opt for the NBA Draft. Since his return, Tony Bennett and his staff have noticed some changes in their senior leader, not just in mechanics, but in leadership and more.

Beekman readily admits he has stepped into a leadership role. There is no doubt that this is his team and he welcomes the challenge of bringing out the best in his teammates. Some of those qualities emerged from his experience in the NBA Combine, an intense experience that demands a player be at his best.

“I feel like going through that process built my confidence,” Beekman said. “Just competing against some of the top guys and doing well, it was like, ‘Okay, I belong.’ I always knew that I belonged, and now I know that the NBA is my next step.”

UVA associate head coach Jason Williford pointed out a few weeks ago that he and the rest of the coaching staff have definitely noticed changes in Beekman’s game, and particularly the confidence and the leadership bursting through. Bennett was quick to point that out in recent interviews at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte last week and UVA’s media day this week.

“I’ve enjoyed watching him sort of being thrust into more of a leadership role,” Bennett said about Beekman. “He did it quietly last year. Now he’s having to do it a little more vocally, but he has his own nature.

“He comes up alongside them, but he’ll let them know if he doesn’t think something’s going right. He has a way to speak to them, and he commands our attention because he’s a good player and has the experience.”

The 6-foot-3 Beekman, who grew up in Milwaukee but carved out an outstanding high school career in Baton Rouge, La., where he led Scotland Magnet H.S. to four-consecutive state titles, was named Louisiana’s Mr. Basketball for his efforts.

Virginia won an intense recruiting battle for the prized guard, who was third-team All-ACC last season. While he led the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio, was second in the league in steals (57) and third in assists (168), his lack of scoring volume (9.5 points per game) probably hurt him in the all-conference voting. He shot 40.5 percent from the field, 35 percent from the 3-point arc and 79 percent from the free-throw line, numbers that are likely to jump this season.

His scoring and aggressiveness elevated at the combine, which should help him this season at Virginia.

Bennett had told Beekman heading into the combine and other draft-related events just how intense it would be.

“I told him he better lace ‘em up tight because these guys [others in camp] are in pursuit of significant things,” Bennett said. “I think it was really good for him.”

Beekman agreed with his coach, who helped guide him through.

“[Bennett] talked to me a lot during the process, just encouraging me and telling me if I needed any help, he was always there, which was very nice,” Beekman said. “This one thing he said that always stuck with me was to never take a backseat. Always be the player you are, never fall behind, always be assertive. I took a lot of that with me through the workouts and through the Combine as well, and I felt like that helped me a lot.”

Beekman’s confidence grew throughout the process, to the point where a lot of observers believed his value had jumped so much that he would stay in the draft. Wahoo Nation dreaded the news, but on the very last day of decision, the Virginia guard withdrew his name from consideration.

He got what he needed from the process, tested his game against the best players being considered for the draft, took notes on what he needs to improve upon, and as mentioned, watched his own confidence soar.

“Just all the work that I put in, that definitely builds confidence,” Beekman said. “When you start to see things going well early on, it keeps building you up, made it easier to get reps and you see the work pay off.”

How has his game changed from the end of last season, through the summer and now on the eve of his senior season? What are fans going to see from Beekman?

“I’m just being more aggressive, looking for my shot more, but also being that vocal leader as well,” Beekman said. “That’s the next step that I think I need from a point-guard spot for the next level. So I want to take that with me going into the NBA.”

What fans may see is the Beekman who made 7 of 10 field goals for 18 points at Michigan last season. Remember what he just said about looking for shots?

“Yeah, hunting shots and playmaking as well, just doing this every day, but staying within the offense,” Beekman said. “Not doing anything out of the ordinary, but looking for the shot more, looking to make more plays.”

One of the great functions of returning to Virginia has been going up against Georgetown transfer Dante Harris, who may be an even more intense on-ball defender than Kihei Clark was, as difficult as that may be to believe.

Both Bennett and Williford have pointed out that Harris is one of the best on-ball defenders they’ve ever been around and they’ll get no argument from Beekman, who appreciated Clark and carries over that appreciation toward Harris.

“It’s a challenge going up against [Harris] in practice every day,” Beekman said. “I saw a lot of his highlight tapes coming in, but I didn’t know what he was like on defense because highlights are usually offense. So, defensively, at first, it was a little bit surprising, like, Okay, there’s great competition going against him every day.

“It’s kind of distinctive, kind of similar to Kihei, going against Kihei for three years. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without going against [Kihei] every day. He’s helped me so much offensively and defensively, so I’m very appreciate of that. Having another year with another intense guy on defense is a blessing.”