Some people travel great lengths to accomplish goals that they have set. One such person is senior Jalin Barnes.
The 6-1 senior guard from Raleigh, N.C., has been one of the many bright spots on head coach Mark Vanderslice’s 7-4 team during the 2016-17 season.
A do-it-all student-athlete, Barnes transferred from Sam Houston State prior to the season. There, he played in 34 games while tallying highs of 19 points against Central Arkansas. He also netted double figures against California and Jackson State.
Prior to Sam Houston State, Barnes played at Barton County C.C. There, he earned all-league honors and guided his team to a 24-win season. Barnes also netted over 20 points a pair of times en route to earning the KJCCC “Player of the Week” honors.
Although he traveled halfway across the country to pursue his dream, Barnes left his previous institution and has been a strong force during Vanderslice’s second year at the helm of the Pacers.
Barnes accounts for 15.4 points per contest while burying nearly 50 percent of his shots on the season (47.3 percent). He has also been solid from behind the three-point stripe (35.6 percent).
One of two seniors on the court for USC Aiken, Barnes has brought leadership and has been a versatile, athletic combo guard to the line-up.
Click below to watch the Innovative Solutions “A Closer Look” as Maddie Campanella talks with Barnes about his career, this season and future plans.
