Kory Barnett, a 6'5", 200 lb shooting forward from Rochester, Indiana, is one of two walk-ons (including
Daniel Moore) to play for the Hoosiers next year. Barnett played on the AAU Indiana Elite team and averaged 11.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game for Rochester Community HS.
Barnett brings a defensive mindset to Indiana
IUplanet took some time to talk to Barnett this afternoon. This is what he had to say about his decision to walk on, former Coach Kelvin Sampson and current Coach Tom Crean, his skills on the court, and the rest of the 2008 recruiting class:
When were you sure that playing for IU was the right decision for you?
Well I wasn’t really sure until June or July of last year. I talked to Coach [Kelvin] Sampson and he just kind of laid it all out for me. I got a few mid-major offers and decided that I wanted to be a coach later on in life, so I decided to walk on to a higher major so I could be under a better coach. That way he’d help me after I graduate, and it would be easier for me to start my coaching job.
So Sampson was the first coach you talked to?
Yea, he was, I talked to Sampson. Me and [fellow walk-on] Daniel Moore both talked to Sampson and we decided we wanted to walk on there.
And when Crean was hired and Sampson left, how quickly did you adjust to Crean and his staff?
Well, the Sampson thing was kind of a long process. It was during basketball season so it was kind of tough. But as soon as I heard that Crean was hired…I know Coach [Tim] Buckley on his staff, he was an assistant coach for Steve Alford, and I kind of know him through my family. So my dad talked to him and he said that Crean was interested. So we went down there and met probably a week and a half after that, during Little 500. He was very motivated, a great guy, and it seemed like he was ready to get the program back in order.
What other options were you considering at that time?
My other option, for walk-on spots, the only other option was Kansas. Other than walk-on, little offers were from Evansville, Indiana State, Southborough, and a couple other mid-majors.
Was that a difficult decision for you to come here and turn down the scholarships?
Not really. I’m not going to go be a scorer anywhere I go. All through high school, I’ve played with great scorers, and I’m kind of a role player. I’m more of a defensive player. I’m not going to go anywhere and score 20 points, whether I went to a mid-major or high-major, I’m going to be doing the same thing. Obviously less at a high-major, but I’d still love to work and hopefully get a role somewhere at IU, whether it’s defense, or just scrapping, anything I can do.
What drew you the most here to IU?
At first it was just the whole Indiana prestige. Once the whole Coach Sampson thing went down, I talked to Coach, he really sold me and Daniel on being part of the team that could bring Indiana back to what it was, back to the clean program and everything.
Are you a big IU fan?
Not really, I was a Coach Alford fan, and they were always rivals with Iowa. Once Coach Alford left and went to New Mexico, I started liking IU. I was never a huge [IU] fan before that, but once I met Coach Sampson, I loved Coach Sampson, he was a great person, and obviously Coach Crean now.
What are your thoughts on Coach Crean’s success recruiting here at IU?
He is actually a great recruiter. I’ve talked to many, a lot of players. Obviously I’ve been through the AAU circuit, so I made a lot of friends, and they talked about him recruiting at Marquette. Nothing against Sampson, but Sampson, his style was just more laidback, just kind of calm. Crean is the exact opposite, he’s motivated, he’s enthused, he’s in-your-face, this is how it’s going to be. Grades, school, basketball, this is how it’s going to be, and it’s my way or the highway. I think it’ll do great wonders to clean the program up.
You mentioned defense earlier, can you describe your game more for people who don’t know much about you?
Personally, I’ve never really been a scorer. I’ve tried to become a three-point shooter here and there, but just got more into defense. I am obviously going to work on my offense, but it’s always kind of been the defense. Throughout my whole life and career, I was always the one to guard the other team’s player, from my freshman year until when I was a senior. I always make the extra pass, that type of stuff. Going to IU, I’d love to work on my three-point shot, and get that going. As of right now, I’m just looking to be a role player and do whatever I can to help the program.
You played AAU on Indiana Elite with fellow recruit Matt Roth, and you’re living with Daniel Moore next year. How are you relationships with them and the rest of the incoming class?
I played against
Nick Williams a little bit, he’s a great, great player. And obviously I played with Roth and Daniel, Daniel off and on the last two summers, and Matt Roth last summer. Matt is, legitly, one of the best three-point shooters I’ve ever seen. We had a kid on our team named Emmanuel Negedu, who had like a 48” vertical, and we would just come watch him do amazing things. But then college recruiters would come to our games just to watch Matt shoot. He puts on shows, he’ll start at the three-point line, and he’ll hit three or four three’s in a row, and his last three will end up being right inside the half-court circle. The way he shoots, it is just amazing. And Daniel, you probably know him from Carmel a little bit. He’s just an unbelievable point guard, I’ve never seen a kid who gets on a fast break and has a wide open layup, and decides to stop and pass to the kid behind him, because he doesn’t care about scoring, all he cares about is his team winning and assists. Both of them are great, great players and great kids, so I’ll think we’ll have fun at IU.
What is the most exciting thing about coming to IU to play basketball?
I’m just excited to go play with my friends…it’s where I can elevate my game. I went to stand on the sidelines for a couple games, and saw how physical and fast those games are. It’s gonna be hard, but I think the coaching staff and trainers down there are unbelievable, they’re the best. So hopefully me and Daniel and Roth can all get down there, get ready, and make a better season than what people think next year.
Congratulations to Kory Barnett for this great accomplishment! Next season is looking much brighter!
Interview with fellow walk-on Daniel Moore
Discuss Kory Barnett and IU's walk-on program in the forums.
Related links:
http://iuplanet.com/forum/iuplanet-h...iel-moore.html
basketblog Blog Archive Kory Barnett and more
Indiana Elite - Team
Scout.com: Kory Barnett Profile
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