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Davion Berry left California and followed his friend to Ogden.
But if the former Weber State standout is to follow Damian Lillard's footsteps one more time, he knows he'll have to carve his own path.
"He's Damian Lillard," Berry said Friday, when asked about the role the Portland Trail Blazers' All-Star has had in his success. "But I'm Davion Berry. I set my own trends. … What I did [at Weber State] helps me get my own looks."
What Berry, the reigning Big Sky Conference MVP did, includes:
• Starting all 68 games during his two years as a Wildcat.
• Averaging 19 points, four rebounds and four assists a game as a senior.
• Leading Weber to the Big Sky regular season title, the conference championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, something that eluded Lillard.
Berry's skills have earned him workouts with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers already. And Friday, as he wore a Utah Jazz practice jersey, Berry put forth his best workout yet.
"My first two workouts were OK," he said. "But this one today, I feel like I blew it out of the water."
Berry showed off his shooting touch and helped his team win a three-on-three battle.
"It's just an honor, a blessing. I'm humbled," Berry said. "Hopefully I get an opportunity to come back for a second workout, or get invited to summer league or get some positive feedback. Anything to motivate me, keep pushing me."
But what Utah Jazz officials want to see from the 6-foot-4 Berry is the ability to run a team.
"We've heard he can play point, so we're kind of looking at him as a point to see if he can do that," said Jazz Vice President of Player Personnel Walt Perrin.
Jazz officials also got up-close looks Friday at two other prospects with local ties: Oral Roberts forward Shawn Glover, who spent two years at the University of Utah, and Utah State big man Jarred Shaw.
"It hasn't been a great year in terms of local guys," Perrin said, "and I don't know how many more we're going to have come in."
Glover left the Ute program after Jim Boylen was fired. But the forward tries to keep tabs on his old coach, watching for him whenever the San Antonio Spurs are on TV.
"I'm always looking for him," he said. "I'm, like, 'I know that guy!'"
Perrin praised Glover's strength and size, but said he'll need to tweak a flat jump shot.
Shaw, who averaged 14 points and eight rebounds a game last season for the Aggies, will need to toughen up and learn to fight harder to succeed as a pro, Perrin said.
As for Berry, he has workouts scheduled next with the Warriors, Rockets and Pacers.
"It's a long process for me, especially because a lot of teams and a lot of scouts haven't seen me play because I'm coming from Weber State," he said.
But he knows a player can make the leap from Ogden to the NBA.
The guy he calls "my big brother" has already done it.
Twitter: @tribjazz