Barney is a PH Utah EXPO alumnus, and he looked smooth in the Great Western Classic as he did at our EXPO. He is a kid who will be an intriguing prospect, as he is a 4 who could be a hybrid 3, since he can defend the perimeter. He holds his own against 5s, but I think he will be able to focus on being more perimeter-oriented in college and use that inside presence when needed. Barney is going to light up the stat sheet this year, and he is going to be playing above the rim, electrifying the crowd. Barney is going to be in takeover mode.

Raidon Barney Raidon Barney 6'9" | PF/C South Sevier | 2027 State UT is a power forward who impressed me all day at the Utah Expo. He has a good handle and a smooth shot for his size, but I really liked his downhill attack. He did a great job creating for himself and his teammates while putting pressure on the defense. His length and athleticism also stood out around the rim, where he had several impressive attempts and plays above the rim. Defensively, he was making an impact with his length as well. He had multiple blocks and did a good job as a gap defender, creating stops for his team. Barney showed me he can make an impact on both ends and has a lot of tools to work with. I think he has good potential in the 2027 class.

Barney was strong inside, and I liked that he was sticking to what he does best, and that is defend, rebound, and run the floor. Barney was active inside and he had more dunks than anyone else and the way that he can rise up vertically was just consistent and impressive. I like him at the next level as a 4 who can play the 4 because he can rebound and run. Best 4 man in the building this weekend.

Raidon shows that his height isn’t limited to being effective just in the paint. His ball-handling and shooting give him the ability to impact the game away from the basket, while his size still creates problems around the rim. Top that off with clean, well-timed shot blocking on the defensive end, and Raidon shows the tools to be an effective all-around player.

Barney averaged 24.4 points a game, and he also averaged 9.3 rebounds a game. You can also throw in 3.2 assists a game as well. Barney is accounting for a major part of the scoring on his team, and with him getting bigger and stronger this year, you can expect him to be a player who will be fun to watch. Barney is the reigning 2A Player of the Year; he has a good chance to repeat. Barney might be the most productive player in the state regardless of class.

The 6’8 F/C will be a lot to handle, and you can expect him to throw down some thunderous dunks paired with some timely shooting.

Barney had a very good year last year but I think that was just the tip of the iceberg. Barney could easily duplicate last years season and he has sharpened up his game drastically. Keep an eye on him as he is a next level prospect that could be a high level find.

Raidon Barney Raidon Barney 6'9" | PF/C South Sevier | 2027 State UT is that modern prototype of a versatile big man, boasting an upside that is truly off the charts. While he is currently developing his game at the high school level, his long-term trajectory is something that becomes intriguing to programs at the next level. He WILL continue to add strength to his 6’9″ build, and his capacity to impact the game on both ends of the floor will only increase. He is a must-watch player in July.

Barney might be the best-kept secret when it comes to coaches recruiting this kid. Spring and summer will be important as he has a chance to show them that his game is a type of game that translates to the next level.

In PH Utah Expo Preview 5 Players Excited to Watch – Prep Hoops, Hector mentioned this kid has the opportunity to become a standout talent. He did exactly that. The best big on the court Saturday in my eyes, he’s quick and super lengthy. He showed an amazing touch both around the basket and from deep. His teammates were looking for him all day, and there wasn’t much the opposing team could do to slow him. Plus, he was getting stops on the other end.

Legit length and maybe a plus 2 on his wingspan. He was crashing the boards when he did not get an attempt, and he was just active all over the floor. He was not pouting about his touches; he was just out there being active, and he had a few thunderous drop-step dunks. It is safe to say that he will be blowing up this summer.