The Berkeley High Yellowjackets basketball team has a plethora of shooting guards and small forwards that include Jalil Eppenger, Trey Thompson, and Langston Morris-Walker. These players get all the attention for their 3-pt shooting or explosive above the rim play. However, the floor general of the team is their point guard, Josh Amey.
At 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds, Amey has been the varsity starter since his junior year last season. He considers his hesitation dribble as his best move as it allows him to create space between him and the defender. Amey uses his quickness and ball handling skills to direct his team's offense and to be leadership focal point of the team.
Berkeley High Coach Damion McNeil says, "Josh is our starting point guard and we pretty much go as he goes as a team. He is an amazing leader and the spokesperson for the team. Whenever there is something that the team is feeling and needs to express, it always comes from Josh. He is nearly impossible to keep in front of a defender. Every team knows he wants to penetrate, mostly to his left, and no matter what they do, they can't keep him out of the paint. He is a fierce competitor and absolutely fearless! Pound for pound, he is the toughest player on our team."
During this past summer, Amey played for both his Defend to Win club team and his high school team. In various games, Amey has a calm, fluid approach to the game. When he is double teamed or has to bring the ball up against a full court press, his dribbling skills and deliberate decision making skills enable him to make the correct pass. Amey has been working on improving his jumpshot to make his offensive arsenal more complete.
Coach McNeil says, "I feel Josh has really good vision on the court and has the ability to deliver the ball like few that I've seen. He is actually still growing and I think with some added strength he can be an effective point guard at the mid D-1 or perhaps high D-2 level. I think Josh can become a pretty good shooter, but with his ability to penetrate and finish or dish, he really doesn't look for his own shot very much. However, he is capable of making big shots as he has time and time again for us in the clutch (Mack and Castro Valley)."
Berkeley High plans to play a four guard set this year as key post player Akil Johnson is lost for the year due to a knee injury. The Yellowjackets are loaded with scorers on the team. Expect Amey to be the key distributor as he should be putting up Rajon Rando statistics. Incidentally, Amey models his game after the former Kentucky Wildcat Rondo as he tries to be an all around player who sets his teammates up, runs the team offensively and defensively, and is a leader. Despite being undersized as a team, Berkeley High should be able to outrun and outscore most of their opponents with their scorers and with Amey running the team. As a result, Amey's goal is to see the Yellowjackets make a run to Arco Arena in Sacramento. In this early season, he is averaging 10 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals as the Yellowjackets are undefeated in their first eight games.
Coach McNeil says, "I have received an unofficial inquiry from Southern University about Josh. I feel as he continues to improve and if we can keep getting wins, a lot more schools will come asking about him. I feel he should be recruited by a lot more schools, and wherever he lands many folks will be asking how he slipped under the radar. I have been really impressed by Josh as he has adapted to me as a coach. We have had a lot of ups and downs, but he manages to maintain his role as pulse of the team, man the lead guard position, and manage our relationship. I am pleased for him that we are winning, because he wants to win more than anything! I have been hard on him, because we really have no one who can come close to providing what he can for us, and I know he has to improve to prepare for the rigors of playoff basketball. He is handling everything I throw his way with a grace, and toughness that I think will serve him and our team well, as we progress on our journey."
Amey would like to major in Business or Finance in college as his favorite subject is Math. He prefers to play in an up tempo type basketball program that likes to push the ball in transition and press. He would prefer to stay in California so his parents could attend his games but he will not allow geography to limit his decision.
Coach McNeil says, "Off the court Josh is a quiet, fun loving guy. He has a lot of friends and is the kind of guy that everyone wants to be around. Josh is also extremely bright in the classroom. He is learning to better manage his study time, and is juggling a full senior load, making up some classes from when he wasn't as focused, and also leading this team. I think that speaks to the amazing inner strength he possesses."
Aside from basketball, Amey is very spiritual. He has two tattoos on his right arm that displays "Blessed" and the scripture from Psalm 46: 1-2. His faith in God is very important to him. Aside from looking high above for his strength, expect Amey to be aiming high in his basketball endeavors during this current season in Berkeley.
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