DeAndre’ Bembry carries brother's memory, heavy heart to NBA draft

DeAndre’ Bembry will carry his brother's memory and a heavy heart to the 2016 NBA draft, where he is expected to be a first-round pick.

Author:
Jake Fischer
Publish date:
Jun 14, 2016

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Shabazz Napier set the American Athletic Conference on fire during the league’s inaugural 2013–14 season. His sizzling, shake-and-bake drives and audacious, 30-foot three-pointers powered UConn back to the NCAA tournament after a one-year hiatus. The Huskies created mayhem that tournament, clawing their way to a national title despite drawing a 7-seed in the East Region. But Napier’s march to the championship nearly came to a close before it even began.

A gangly, bearded and afroed freshman forward from St. Joseph’s agitated the collegiate superstar throughout the opening half of UConn’s first round battle with the 10-seeded Hawks. Little known DeAndre’ Bembry, 6’6” with a 6’9.25” wingspan, caged the smaller, slithery Napier throughout the first half. He scored just five points on 2–8 shooting as St. Joe’s unexpectedly carried a five–point lead into intermission. “Do you know DeAndre’ now?” his mother, Essence Bembry shouted at Napier from the stands. “Introduce yourself!”

NBA prospect DeAndre' Bembry’s brother shot and killed

The Huskies ultimately forced overtime, escaped with an 89–81 win and never looked back. “You always have those woulda, coulda, shoulda-beens,” said Knicks guard Langston Galloway, those Hawks’ leading scorer. “They end up just rolling through the tournament like it was nothing.” Napier was far from rolling that Friday evening, however, needing 22 shots to score his team-high 24 points. He now knew Bembry all too well, as did a plethora of NBA scouts. Today, he’s considered a surefire first round pick in the June 23 NBA draft. “That’s the reason why we took UConn to the wire,” said former St. Joe’s forward Ronald Roberts. “I feel like he was a senior like us. I’ve never really seen anything like that.”

Bembry had faced a similar situation before. Three summers prior, running in one of The Patrick School’s renowned open gyms in Elizabeth, N.J., the program’s most-famous alumni, Kyrie Irving, returned to his roots. Irving arrived home as the freshly crowned No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. “It was all about Kyrie,” said St. Pat’s head coach Chris Chavannes. “We’d tend to stargaze a little bit. Whereas with DeAndre’, he just relished it and just went out and played. DeAndre’ respects all but fears none. He wanted to prove how good he was.”

Irving and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was picked second in the 2012 draft, headlined pickup games the next summer. St. Patrick’s star-studded alumni scrimmaged against the current iteration of the Jersey powerhouse. “When we did lose, we had to run,” Bembry said. He got in Irving’s face, crowded his airspace to challenged the guard’s otherworldly handle. “We were just going at it,” Bembry said. “At the time, when I’m on the court, I’m not thinking ‘He’s the No. 1 draft pick.’ I’m just playing basketball.”

2016 NBA Mock Draft

1. Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons, F, LSU (6'10", 240)

Number one could've been a much closer debate this year, but Simmons has had the clear edge ever since the Sixers won the lottery. Brett Brown knows his family from his days in Australia, Simmons trusts The Process, and this is already done. There are real questions about his work ethic at LSU and how he'll fit in the NBA, but he's got the highest upside on the board. He's 6'10 with point guard skills, and if he can develop a dependable jumpshot and improve on defense, he could be somewhere between LeBron James and Draymond Green—the two best players on the floor of an NBA Finals Game 7 a few days ago. For the Sixers, that kind of upside is worth the risk.

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, F, Duke (6'9", 195)

Ingram's my favorite player in the draft. He looks like he weighs 150 pounds, but he plays bigger, and he was fearless for Duke last year. All the typical draft buzzwords apply to his place in the top two—he's got a freakish wingspan (7'3), three-point range, the ability to play multiple positions and tons of upside—but I like Ingram for his intangibles as much as anything. He played his tail off against bigger players all year long, he got better as the season unfolded, and by the end he was clearly the best player on Duke's team at 18 years old. The Lakers are apparently settled on Ingram, and L.A. fans should be thrilled.

3. Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown, G/F, Cal (6'7", 225)

The hype comes full circle! After half the NBA decided Brown was overrated over the past few months, he's now right back in the mix near the top of this draft, and he could surprise everyone Thursday. Boston has liked Brown since the regular season, and if the Celtics keep this pick, here's to betting that Ainge goes for upside on the wing. This is the same GM who was ready to trade four first–round picks for Justise Winslow last year, and Brown does a lot of the same things. With a reliable jumper, he could turn into a terror on both ends of the floor. Or, to think of this a different way: If the Celtics can't trade for Jimmy Butler, maybe they can draft him.

4. Phoenix Suns: Marquese Chriss, F, Washington (6'9", 225)

Speaking of hype... Chriss came out of nowhere—he's only played basketball for five years, he wasn't ranked in the top 50 out of high school and he only played about 25 minutes per game for Washington (thanks in large part to foul trouble)—but over the past month he's exploded up draft boards. He's got the highest ceiling of anyone beyond the top two. That's partly an indictment of his lottery peers, yes, and he's also got a much lower floor than someone like Jaylen Brown, sure. But all of that is what makes this fun. Will Marquese Chriss turn into a full-on pick-and-roll nightmare next to Devin Booker, or will he be 2016's Tyrus Thomas? Let's find out!

5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kris Dunn, G, Providence (6'4", 220)

Minnesota could really use Dragan Bender in this spot, and a future built around him and Karl–Anthony Towns would be terrifying. On the other hand, Kris Dunn may be the safest bet in the draft outside of Brandon Ingram, and between injuries and Ricky Rubio rumors, the Wolves point guard situation isn't quite as solid as you might think. Dunn was one of the most productive players in the country at Providence, and he's the closest of any lottery pick to helping a team from Day One next year. He's built like a tank and plays like it—there's no way Thibs will be able pass on that, right?

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Jamal Murray, G, Kentucky (6'4", 205)

Anyone who watched him in the NCAA tournament against Indiana saw him struggle against NBA length and quickness, and his lack of athleticism will make playing defense a struggle. But look at some of the best combo-guards in the NBA—Curry, Harden, McCollum, even Devin Booker and D'Angelo Russell last year—and there are plenty of examples of talented guards who faced a lot of the same skepticism at draft time. The Pelicans should grab him hoping that he can get to that C.J. McCollum level next in a few years, and knowing that his three-point shooting could help them regardless next season.

7. Denver Nuggets: Dragan Bender, F, Croatia (7'0", 220)

Bender's size and ability to space the floor will make him valuable wherever he lands, but as the youngest player in the draft, it'll take him a few years before he's ready to contribute. Even then, he may not score enough to be a true superstar. All of this is why he could slide tonight. But he could also turn into a skilled glue guy who can pass, shoot, and guard multiple positions on defense. For a Nuggets team that already has Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic at the five, adding Bender as a stretch–four would be a major win for the long-term blueprint.

8. Sacramento Kings: Buddy Hield, G, Oklahoma (6'4", 215)

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Kings have been shunned by almost every prospect in the first round. Players have refused to work out, and many have refused to even provide medical records. Apparently nobody wants to be the next Nik Stauskas? In any case, Sacramento is opening a new arena this season, Boogie is in the final two years of his contract and still hasn't made the playoffs, and the Ben McLemore Experiment has been on life support for a good 24 months now. Hield's best case scenario is the Bahamian J.J. Redick, which would be great in this draft. Even in the worst–case scenario—Jodie Meeks?—his shooting should help off the bench.

9. Toronto Raptors: Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah (7'1", 240)

Poeltl has been a favorite of mine for a while—possibly because it's so much fun to pronounce his first name (YA-KUB). After two years in the draft the spotlight has hurt some his of buzz, but he should be a pleasant surprise for whichever team lands him. His size alone will make him a factor against most modern big men, and he's skilled around the rim. He's smart and he's mobile, and if his shot blocking isn't elite, his team defense should be excellent. If the Raptors think they'll lose Bismack Biyombo, Poeltl's a good replacement, and probably the best player available here.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Deyonta Davis, F/C, Michigan State (6'10", 240)

The Bucks could go in a couple different directions—Wade Baldwin, Timothe Luwawu, and Henry Ellenson are all options—but after talking it through on this Bucks podcast with friends at Brew Hoop, I'm pretty sure drafting Davis is the best option. He's raw and probably a few years away from helping as a starter, but this would be a smart long-term play. He can protect the rim, rebound, and best–case scenario, he can knock down jumpers and spread the floor. Davis can definitely do the first two, and maybe even the third. Do it, Bucks Mafia.

11. Orlando Magic: Skal Labissiere, F/C, Kentucky (6'11", 220)

General question: Does anyone know what the Magic are doing? The pieces in Orlando don't necessarily fit, but they've got so many young players from the past few years that there aren't any obvious holes to fill, either. For now, let's assume they go for upside here. Skal is a few years and a few thousand Chipotle burritos away from banging with NBA big men, but if he can put on enough weight to hold his own, he's got all the tools to be an excellent rim-protecting stretch five (think Channing Frye).

12. Atlanta Hawks: Domantas Sabonis, F, Gonzaga (6'10", 240)

Let's see... Undersized, underrated, high motor, high IQ, star of everyone's favorite Cinderella team... He's basically already a Hawk, right? And this is definitely the best–case scenario for Domantas Sabonis. He's good and productive now, but if the Hawks can help him add a perimeter jumper, he could be excellent for the next 10 years.

13. Phoenix Suns: Timothe Luwawu, G/F, France (6'7", 205)

Luwawu's highlights a) lead this draft class in dunks-per-minute and b) make me want a Mega Leks jersey. At worst, he can be a helpful energy role player off the bench. At best, he can hone his three-point shooting and grow into a long (6'11 wingspan), athletic monster on the wing playing next to Devin Booker in Phoenix. The Suns could also take Henry Ellenson here, but I hope they roll the dice on Luwawu.

14. Chicago Bulls: Wade Baldwin IV, G, Vanderbilt (6'3", 195)

This draft pick doesn't even matter. Bulls fans are all still shell-shocked after the Derrick Rose era suddenly turned into the Jose Calderon and Robin Lopez era, and it's hard to blame them. Having said that, Wade Baldwin's defense and three-point shooting make him a perfect fit for everything the NBA values now. If Jimmy Butler's going to be handling the ball more, it makes sense to add a point guard who can defend and spot up for three while Butler creates.

15. Denver Nuggets: Furkan Korkmaz, G, Turkey (6'5", 175)

I lied when I said Brandon Ingram was my favorite player in the draft. Furkan Korkmaz is my favorite player in the draft. Wherever he lands tonight, I hope ESPN shows his full, six-minute dunk contest—dunking over that couple's romantic dinner, and then putting on the Darth Vader outfit for the finale—and gives the people what they need. He's also only 18 years old, and probably the best draft-and-stash prospect in this draft. Assuming the Nuggets won't add three rookies this season, Furkan at 15 is a smart play.

16. Boston Celtics: Taurean Prince, F, Baylor (6'7", 220)

Jae Crowder gets an understudy! Prince can play either forward spot, he's built like a linebacker, he dunks like a linebacker, and his three-point shooting is solid. The Celtics don't have many glaring needs (beyond star power that this draft won't provide), and as a role player who will win over Boston fans within his first month, Prince could be great.

17. Memphis Grizzlies: Malachi Richardson, G, Syracuse (6'6", 195)

There was talk over the weekend that Memphis encouraged Richardson to shut down his workouts, because if he slides to 17, the Grizzlies plan to take him. That's a little bit puzzling considering some of the struggles he had during the regular season at Syracuse, but he's a good shooter with tools that could turn him into a starter down the road.

18. Detroit Pistons: Henry Ellenson, F/C, Marquette (6'10", 245)

Ellenson may not fall this far on draft night—Toronto, Milwaukee, Denver, and Phoenix will all be tempted—but if he does, it's hard to imagine he slips past Detroit. He's a perfect stretch–four for Stan Van Gundy, with the potential to play next to Andre Drummond or come off the bench as a stretch–five while Drummond sits. His defense will be a work in progress, but this low in the draft, his size and skill would be a steal.

19. Denver Nuggets: Malik Beasley, G, Florida State (6'5", 190)

This could be a chance to steal a long-term sidekick for Emannuel Mudiay. Beasley's a little bit like Marquese Chriss. He wasn't on anyone's draft radar coming out of high school, and even now, he's something of a mystery. He can shoot, he's explosive, and while a little undersized, he's got all the tools to grow into a solid defender. Most importantly, my favorite fact of the draft is that both his parents are actors, and his dad is currently working on Bloodline, trying to get paid by Kevin, unaware that Kevin did a bad thing—I'm so in on Malik Beasley.

20. Indiana Pacers: Denzel Valentine, G/F, Michigan State (6'6", 220)

Valentine would probably be closer to a lottery pick if teams weren't scared off by injury concerns over a possibly degenerative knee. Still, his shooting and skill on offense can help anyone, he's one of the smartest players in the draft, and as a four-year senior, he'll be ready to help right away. All of it sounds like a player Larry Bird would fall in love with. Plus, the Pacers bet on Myles Turner's health last year and that worked out pretty well.

21. Atlanta Hawks: Dejounte Murray, G, Washington (6'5", 170)

Now that Schroeder is the new Teague, maybe Atlanta needs a new Schroeder? Murray is giving off strong Tony Wroten vibes—great physical tools, can get to the rim at will, can't shoot, probably should've stayed in school—and maybe that scares some teams. It should scare some teams. But the Hawks' staff has been consistently excellent at developing young players, and Murray has more to work with than almost anyone.

22. Charlotte Hornets: Juan Hernangomez, F, Spain (6'9", 225)

Juan "Juancho" Hernangomez is skilled and he could see time at either forward position in the NBA. His athleticism will be a question mark, but he plays incredibly hard to help compensate. Meanwhile, the Hornets may lose one or both of Nic Batum or Marvin Williams this summer. Grabbing Hernangomez could be a good insurance policy for the future.

23. Boston Celtics: Ante Zizic, C, Croatia (6'11", 240)

If the Celtics can't swing a trade, they'll likely look to draft–and–stash at least one of these picks. They could go with Zizic here, or Ivica Zubac, another 7–footer from the Adriatic League. Zizic is the more active and athletic of the two and figures to fit better with the direction of the league, but the Zizic-Zubac debate will (hopefully?) come down to the wire.

24. Philadelphia 76ers: Demetrius Jackson, G, Notre Dame (6'1", 220)

Jackson's long-term future probably makes the most sense as a high–energy third guard, but given how barren the backcourt in Philadelphia has been, he could make sense as a starter in the immediate future. Most importantly, he's got good length (6'5 wingspan) to help himself defensively, and he can hit spot-up jumpers, a prerequisite for any guard playing next to Ben Simmons.

25. Los Angeles Clippers: Cheick Diallo, F, Kansas (6'9", 218)

Diallo was basically invisible at Kansas this past season—3.0 ppg, 7.5 mpg—but a great combine and crazy physical tools—7'4.5" wingspan—has helped boost his stock into the first round. He has Biyombo potential off the bench, and the Clippers could draft him here and pay him roughly $70 million less over the next few years. Not a bad deal.

26. Philadelphia 76ers: Patrick McCaw, G, UNLV (6'7", 181)

Patrick McCaw has all the tools to become an awesome two-way wing in a few years. He's long, he's big, and he shot 36% from three last year. He got lost on a crappy UNLV team that fired its coach, but if his shooting improves, and he could turn into a real steal this low in the draft. Either way, he'd be a much better project than most of the wings the Sixers have had the past few years.

27. Toronto Raptors: DeAndre Bembry, G, St. Joseph's (6'6", 220)

Bembry's three-point shooting is a question mark—31% for his career, 26% last season—and that's probably what will scare off Philly. But that might be the only major weakness. He's long and athletic and should be a great defender. He's got a high IQ, and had one of the most well-rounded games in college basketball (17.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.5 apg). He's the type of player who should be twice as valuable on a good team like the Raptors. Think Shaun Livingston on the wing, and not just because of the afro.

28. Phoenix Suns: Ivica Zubac, C, Croatia (7'1", 265)

Zubac could go much higher, and at 19 years old, there's plenty of room to grow after another year or two overseas. The recent track record of the Adriatic League big men (Nikola Jokic, Jusuf Nurkic) is certainly encouraging. In any case, the Suns are unlikely to bring all three picks to the NBA next, so this would be a nice longterm investment if he's available.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Tyler Ulis, G, Kentucky (5'9", 149)

Ulis is dealing with some of the same injury concerns facing Denzel Valentine, and for a point guard who's already 150 pounds and 5'9", giving teams more room for skepticism is not ideal. But look: People around Kentucky basketball have been effusive in their Tyler Ulis praise for two years, and I will bet anything he'll be productive wherever he goes. If injury questions lead him to San Antonio and a bench mob with Kyle Anderson and Boban, this slide will be 100% worth it.

30. Golden State Warriors: Caris LeVert, G, Michigan (6'7", 205)

In real life, given the uncertainty surrounding both Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli, Damian Jones or A.J. Hammons make more sense for the Warriors. In this mock reality, all that has ever mattered—in March, April, May, and June—is setting Caris Levert free in Golden State. Don't talk to me about a Jones fracture. We're here now. The draft is in 12 hours. Can't quit before the miracle happens.

Bembry’s basketball roots trace back to Charlotte’s Nevins Park. At 18 years old, Essence migrated south just weeks before Bembry was born, fleeing the violence that lingered on the dark streets of Newark, N.J., for the slower pace of North Carolina. “I don’t know how we made it, but we made it,” Essence said. By day, she worked as a US Airways gate agent. By night, she cheered for the Boston Celtics, harboring a passion for green since Larry Bird topped Magic Johnson in the 1984 NBA Finals.

Essence’s envisioned her son one day playing in a Celtic uniform. In a sense, her dream came true in the twilight of the modern Big Three era. Before the 2011–12 school year, Essence moved her two sons back to New Jersey, having secured a medical assistant post at Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J. Seeking the next stage in his basketball journey, DeAndre’ visited the St. Patrick’s Celtics the spring break prior, wandering into an open gym. “I remember it clearly,” Chavannes said.

The coach first noticed the mangy afro. Bembry and his AAU teammates decided to grow the old-fashioned hairstyles during a sophomore season road trip. He chopped it off once, only to miss a handful of layups and struggle the duration of his next game. “I wasn’t feeling comfortable. I wasn’t on my game. I just needed to get the afro back,” Bembry said. It’s only grown more voluminous since. Next, Bembry’s smooth, all-around game—back cuts, back screens and efficient bounce passes—struck Chavannes. “What stood out the most was how athletic he was and how unselfish he was and how competitive he was from the get-go,” Chavannes said.

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Adrian Potts witnessed Bembry's progression at Nevins Park. He followed his older brother, Bembry, just one year his senior, to whatever court or field he visited. “We spent most of our life together,” Bembry said. “We pretty much did everything together.” Until Potts returned south for college the fall after Bembry’s first season at St. Joe’s. He wanted to be a lawyer, aspiring to one day handle his older brother’s off-court affairs. Potts convinced Essence to vote for Bernie Sanders in the New Jersey primary this month. “‘We have to help the people,’” said Barbarita Springer, Essence’s aunt. “That was his whole mindset.” Potts opted to spend the summer working in Charlotte in an operations role at a store near his grandmother and great-grandmother, Vicki and Bessie Bembry.

He had gathered with friends on Friday to watch the Golden State Warriors’ convincing Game 4 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Early in the evening an argument spilled out into the parking lot, though Potts ran to mitigate the situation before it escalated. “He always tried to keep the peace,” Springer said. Later on, another dispute arose after a young lady at the party lost her phone, Springer said the police informed her family. Police told the family two shooters, partygoers unaffiliated with Potts’s close friends, sprayed 35 to 45 shots into the apartment around 3 a.m. Saturday.

Three victims suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Potts was declared dead at the scene, the most unfortunate instance of wrong place, wrong time. He was just 20 years old. The family will bury Potts on Thursday, June 16, exactly one week before NBA commissioner Adam Silver will call Bembry’s name. “It's surreal if anything else,” said Phil Martelli, Bembry's coach at St. Joseph's.

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says. “He’s the piece to this puzzle.” The unit pushed St. Joes to a 24–9 season, securing the Hawks’ first A–10 title since 1997.

For the next two seasons, Bembry performed a Kawhi Leonard impression. He blossomed into St. Joe’s leading scorer as a sophomore at 17.7 points per game, making good on the poise a young Bembry played with, the incredible court vision that wowed Martelli upon first meeting. “I’ve always been able to read and react faster than other guys since I was younger,” Bembry says.

The St. Joe’s coach originally went to recruit Bembry’s AAU teammate, but left the gym with a different priority. “I was enamored the first time I saw him,” Martelli said. “I came back to my coaches, I said, ‘I really, really want that kid.’ I think he’s got it. He’s not a guard, he’s not a forward, he’s not a shooter, he’s not a scorer. He’s a basketball player.”

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The college game often seemed easy to Bembry. Throughout a season in which he and Isaiah Miles led the Hawks back to the NCAA tournament in March, he’d patiently wait through defensive reads, appearing to lack a sense of urgency. “There is this notion that he doesn’t play hard. He’s relentless. He’s just at a point, he has this basketball IQ that evolves around his vision. It’s just a little bit slower than him,” Martelli says. It’s like listening to rhythmic jazz on the car ride to an EDM concert: Bembry can appreciate the simplicity of the game while also flushing acrobatic, reverse jams. “He just has an old spirit,” Martelli says. “He’s cool. He’s an old man in a young body.”

Bembry’s game appears perfectly molded for the perimeter of today’s NBA. His only struggle might be finding a sufficient barber in his new city. “You can’t just see random people you need someone who knows how to cut an afro, for sure,” Bembry says. He typically asks for a light trim every two weeks or so—before it mushrooms too big—although each shape up brings its share of anxiety. “I’m always in the mirror looking like, ‘Uh, what are you doing?’” Bembry says. The first time he peers at his reflection following draft night, Bembry will see the only St. Joe’s first round pick since Jameer Nelson looking back at him, his brother’s memory heavy in his heart.