Player Spotlight: Messiah Barnes (2017)
School: Terra Ceia Christian High School
Height: 5’8
Class: 2017
Position: Point Guard
We hear the saying ‘‘Heart over Height’’ quite often and Messiah Barnes is another youngster who fits that mold. He plays the game with a lot of confidence and swagger but has the skill to back it up, over the past few seasons he has been very productive high school and I was curious to see him live against some of the top players from East NC at Fab 40 camp.
Although he wasn’t the leading scorer of the event, he displayed the skill at the PG spot that college coaches look for. First of all he is an outstanding ball handler, even when he is closely guarded by much taller defenders, he does a great job of protecting the ball and keeping his turnovers low. Also he is a very gifted passer, there were numerous times at camp that I was absolutely impressed with how well he put passes in the perfect spot for his teammates. Even though he is a very gifted passer he understands how to score the ball over much taller defenders, he uses his athleticism as well as proper use of the glass and angles to get his shot off in the paint. On the defensive end of the floor he has quick hands and good lateral quickness to cause problems for defenders and to come up with a high amount of steals.
At this point his recruitment is still very much open and he can be a nice pickup for a school that is looking for a PG that can run a squad and play in an up-tempo style of offense. Don’t let his height fool you, this young man can flat out play and doesn’t back down from challenges at all.
Quote from a coach: AAU Coach Jabari Ashe ‘‘Messiah is a quick, flashy Point Guard who can control a team and temp. He also has terrific court vision along with abnormal ball control.’’