"I'm locking his boney a— up..lock that white MF up" - Pat Bev thinks he would clamp down The Professor
The AND1 Mixtape Tour was a global phenomenon that brought streetball to the forefront of the hoops community. A stark departure from traditional basketball, the popular tour showcased filthy crossovers and dunks so hard they rocked the entire court. One of the most popular players of that era was Grayson Boucher, popularly known as "The Professor."
A 5'10" guard from Oregon, he rose to fame on the AND1 Mixtapes, thanks to his tight handles that allowed him to perform spellbinding dribble moves that often led to easy layups or spectacular alley-oop passes that his high-flying teammates were more than happy to jam.
The Professor never came close to sniffing the NBA, and according to former NBA guard Pat Beverley , he would have had no problem clamping down on the ball-handling wizard in a hypothetical matchup.
Aggressive defense
Beverley earned the nickname "Mr. 94 Feet" for a reason. He was known for his relentless, in-your-face defense that annoyed even the most talented NBA superstars. From Damian Lillard to Stephen Curry to Luka Doncic, the 12-year vet had no compunction about getting in the face of whoever he was tasked with defending on any given night.
From going chest-to-chest to initiating contact to talking trash, Beverley pulled out all the stops to get his matchup off his game. And when discussing The Professor's game with former NBA champion Jason Williams, he said he would absolutely put the clamps on him.
"I'm locking his boney a—s up," Beverley declared. "I'm lock that white MFer. I'm locking that s—t right up."
"I'm locking his a— and I'm taking it personal, 'cause he cross, threw the ball off heads and everything. I'm taking it personal," he added.
The 6'2" guard always took pride in his defense and earned three All-Defensive Team selections in his career. And with Boucher, Beverley said he would do what he always did throughout his entire career: play with intensity and physicality.
"Be physical," he responded when asked how he would approach defending Boucher. "I'm getting that handle. Alright. I'mma tap that wrist. When I mean tap wrist, I mean tap that wrist."
Great for the streetball game
The AND1 Mixtape Tour didn't last long, but the play of streetball icons like The Professor, Hot Sauce, Escalade, Skip 2 My Lou, AO and Helicopter greatly influenced the sport, on and off the court. Players young and old played with flair, all while wearing baggy shorts and oversized shirts.
"I thought he was great for the game," White Chocolate said of The Professor.
To be fair, Boucher never seriously harbored dreams of playing in the Association, especially after he latched on to the AND1 Tour. He understood the limitations of his resume and skill set. In addition, he also understood that the optics of being a streetball player wouldn't necessarily translate to success at the highest level.
"I played in some minor leagues (IBL and CBA). No matter how well I played, the politics were never on my side. The higher-ups in the NBA looked at streetball as like 'not real basketball,' like a bad thing," he explained.
While The Professor never got to play in the NBA, he was spectacular in his own lane and will forever be remembered for his incredible ball-handling skills and flashy style of play. Boucher continues to inspire young players around the world and has become an ambassador for streetball culture.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
