"The Truth", For The Love Of The Game
As a senior, Walter Berry was the recipient of the John R. Wooden Award, given by the Los Angeles Athletic Club to the nation’s top collegiate player. He was also awarded the Adolph R. Rupp Trophy, given to the player of the year in college basketball by the Associated Press.
Walter was selected as the 1986 winner of the Oscar Robertson Award as college player of the year by the USBWA ( United State Basketball Writers Association.
Walter’s greatest honor was being selected the Kodak Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
He was the UPI Player of the Year, The Sporting News Player of the Year, Basketball Weekly Player of the Year as well as CBS/Chevrolet Player of the Year and the BIG EAST Player of the Year. He earned these honors by averaging 23.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
Walter Berry was named to the AP and UPI first-team All-America squads.
He became only the fourth player in St. John’s history to reach the 1,000-point mark in two seasons.
Walter Berry was drafted by Portland as the No. 14 pick in the first round of the 1986 NBA Draft subsequently traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Over three seasons Walter played also for the NJ Nets and Houston Rockets and averaged 14 points/5 rebounds per game over his NBA career.
Among his lifetime of achievements:
John R. Wooden Award winner (1986)
Oscar Robertson Trophy winner (1986)
NABC Player of the Year (1986)
AP Player of the Year (1986)
UPI Player of the Year (1986)
Adolph Rupp Trophy winner (1986)
Sporting News Player of the Year (1986)
Consensus first team All-American (1986)
Big East Player of the Year (1986)