Former Weber State University student and reigning Big Sky Conference MVP Davion Berry will be taking his talents overseas this season after signing with PMS Torino of the A2 Gold Basket Series.

“I was very happy,” Berry said about the signing. “Of course everyone dreams of getting into the NBA. This is the next step, to go play overseas.”

WSU men’s basketball coach Randy Rahe said he was happy to hear that Berry would get the chance to play in Italy, saying that the league he will be in is very competitive.

“I was really excited for Davion. Italy is a good place to play,” Rahe said. “Overall I thought it was a good situation for (Davion). I think it’s a great start for him to get his professional basketball career started. It’s a good area and an extremely good league.”

PMS Torino plays out of Turin, a city in northern Italy known primarily for hosting the 2006 Winter Olympics, as well as being the headquarters for the car manufacturer FIAT. The team finished last year with a 19-11 record in the regular season, finishing in fifth place in the league. Torino advanced to the league playoffs, where they defeated Angelico Biella 3-1 in the quarterfinals before falling to Aquila Basket Trento in the semifinals 3-2.

Berry joins Torino after spending the last couple weeks playing with the Portland Trail Blazers Summer League team. He appeared in two games with the Blazers, shooting 1-2 from the field and pulling down two rebounds in 10 minutes of playing time.

“It was a good experience from a learning standpoint,” Berry said. “I learned a lot sitting there watching C.J. (McCollum) and Will (Barton).”

Last season with the Wildcats, Berry led the team in scoring, assists and minutes played, averaging 19.2 points and 3.9 assists in 33.2 minutes per game. In Weber State’s opening round loss to University of Arizona during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, Berry led the team in scoring with 24 points, shooting 10-10 from the free throw line, while also recording two rebounds and two assists. Rahe said that a lot of Berry’s success came from not only his personal skills and abilities, but also his ability to put the team first.

“How he plays the game I think will be beneficial to wherever he plays, because (Davion) is very adept in every area of his game,” Rahe said. “He can pass it, he can handle it, he can shoot it, he can drive it. He’s a great guy to play with because he’s very unselfish, and he would just as soon get his teammate a shot as get a shot himself, and that bodes well when you are playing professional basketball.”

Torino’s season will begin in early October, and as the season nears, Berry is ready to join his new team.

“I want to come in and win and just contribute,” Berry said. “Just play good basketball and be a good teammate.”