Interview: Skills in Basketball Paying Off on the Gridiron for 2021 WR/DB Assani Berkeley
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
While all sports may not directly tie into one another, the commonality is there – speed, agility, and athleticism. For Class of 2021 Mission Prep standout Assani Berkeley, his immense talents on the hardwood are translating onto the gridiron. The “scorer” mentality on the court with the ability to dribble-penetrate and rise to the rim is seen on the field soaring past and over California defenses. The 6-1, 180-pound, play-maker got after it in all three phases of the game in 2019 snagging 15 passes for 503 yards with four touchdowns while carrying the rock 10 times for 49 yards with another trip into the end zone. As a defensive back, Berkeley ended 55 plays, 41 solo, with two tackles for a loss, two sacks, and an eye-popping 19 passes defended. His recruiting stock rose further on special teams taking five punts back 103 yards and 20 kicks for 542 yards.
Berkeley has an offer on the table from California-Davis with Mountain West, Pac-12, and Ivy League programs taking an interest. In an RNG first-look, Berkeley goes into the RNG Lab covering his overall athletic talents.
Interview
Assani, today I’d like to start off in a different direction talking about your talents on the hardwood. You are great at getting in the paint creating your own shot and you abuse cats standing the paint getting some poster dunks. How did your junior year on the court go overall?
“It went really well. For me, it was a good step forward. My sophomore year, I did well, but the chemistry was not great. We had chemistry this year and we built bonds. I really connected with my teammates. Overall, it was a great experience. I did better as a team player than the year previously. I did a better job leading my team.”
My belief is the skills from the hardwood translate greatly to the gridiron, especially for a receiver. How has playing basketball helped you on the field?
“Being reactionary. Basketball is a fast-paced sport, you are always reacting. When I got on the field, I was reacting to a play going against a receiver. Their fakes did not phase me because I had seen it many times before playing basketball. I was able to run around the defensive back, but in basketball you have to do moves to shift the defenders. I had the skill set and ability to do it on the field. As a receiver going against a good defensive back, you have to do a move or double move to get him off you.”
Sticking with the comparisons, your speed on the gridiron was highlighted on special teams, especially on kick returns. Similar to how you weave in and out of traffic with the ball in your hands on the court, with the pigskin you were doing the same thing.
“Running with the football is different, but there are similarities. You use the same footwork, moves, and jukes; you use the same moves in both sports. I watch NFL players to see how they move. In basketball, you don’t have the same blockers. I had to learn how to use my blockers. Our running back, Brian Kowall, really helped me out reading the blockers. He taught me to read their butts and go off that.”
How fast are you?
“My freshman year, I ran an 11.37 in the 100. I did some track work in the summer before the 2019 season, hand-timed I ran an 11-flat in a 100 workout. I think my 40 time is a 4.5.”
You were a big play machine on offense for the Royals on the outside. What were some of the routes you were running?
“A lot of the routes were go-routes. Once the defense saw what I could do, they would back off the coverage, then I would have a bubble route. I’d take a step, comeback, get the ball, make a move and go up field.”
As a receiver, how did that part of your game improve last season?
“It was mainly having to change my speed. As a linear player, that speed, that was all that I was used to from track. I was working on shifting laterally, like playing defense in basketball. Those movements were key for me as a receiver.”
In the Royals defensive scheme, where were you lining up and what coverages were you guys executing to come away with 19 pass breakups?
“I was lining up on receivers on the outside. A lot of times we were pressing or in a Cover 3, I was at safety covering as much ground as possible.”
With your defensive abilities, how did that improve in 2019?
“When I first started playing, my feet were stagnated. I was analyzing too much. I had to mentally remind myself to keep moving to not give the receiver an advantage. I was staying on my toes, never being on my heels, and being balanced. That got better as the season went on.”
At which position are college programs recruiting you?
“Both as a receiver and a defensive back.”
What have you been working on this offseason with your game in total?
“My footwork and getting bigger and stronger.”
Have you received an offer for your play on the field?
“Yes. I have an offer from UC-Davis.”
That’s great. Which schools are showing interest?
“Fresno State, Cal-Poly, Utah, Oregon State, San Diego State, Yale, and Nevada.”
Once the college camp season begins, are there any on the schedule for you?
“I want to go to the Cal-Poly camp and I will try to go to a Utah and UCLA camp.”
Assani, thanks for breaking everything down for me today. Good luck with your workouts this spring.
“Thank you.”
Photo credits: Owen Main; Assani Berkeley in action