Patrick Beverley Signs 3-Year Deal With Houston Rockets

Things didn't look good for Patrick Beverley when his Arkansas career ended due to academic issues just before what would have been his junior season in Fayetteville. Beverley was drafted in 2009 and played in the preseason for Miami before being cut before the NBA season began, and in his absence, the Razorbacks quickly began their first of many Pelphrey-era collapses.

Beverley left the United States and began to further hone his craft in the European leagues, playing in first in Greece, then in the Ukraine before signing a 3-year, $3 million contract with team Spartak in Russia. He had been averaging 14 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds with the team before Houston came calling.

His agent, Kevin Bradbury, told Sporting News:

“You have to give him credit. He never gave up. There was never a woe-is-me moment from him. He has always just said, ‘OK, what do I have to do to get to the NBA?’”

Beverley will be joining former Razorbacks Joe Johnson and Ronnie Brewer in the NBA.

In other pro Razorback basketball news, former Hog point guard Courtney Fortson, who was on the roster of both the Los Angeles Clippers and Rockets last season, has been tearing it up in the NBA D-League. He was named NBADL Performer of the Week earlier in December for averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7 assists.