Jeremy Barr

03/10/05: The word "Cincinnati" does not appear in a new article about Barr. - RivalsHoops.com (3 to 1)

02/18/05: "Texas A&M is strongly involved," said Glenn. "Kentucky is trying to get down here soon. Cincinnati was at our last game. Arizona State and Oklahoma State are still in there, maybe even Oklahoma." - RivalsHoops.com (1 to 3)

02/10/05: Kentucky continues to express interest in what Houston (Texas) Westbury Christian coach Greg Glenn describes as "the best big man still on the market" for 2005. "They're monitoring his progress," Glenn said of UK's recruitment of three-star power forward Jeremy Barr. "We know they're interested. "The thing with Jeremy is that he hasn't taken any visits yet. He's been focused mainly on his academics, and he's fully qualified now, so everything is starting to develop for him. He has about 30 major scholarship offers now, so things could be pretty interesting this spring."

Barr (6-9, 260) is averaging 25 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks per game as a senior at Westbury Christian (29-6). He's been receiving steady interest from programs such as Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Arizona State, USC, Texas Tech and Colorado. "The majority of his offers have come from the Big 12," Glenn said. "I think Auburn is one from the SEC, and Kentucky is showing interest. But with his physique and the style of play in (the Big 12), that could be a really nice fit for him."

Glenn said Barr, who came to Texas from the Bahamas during his sophomore year, has shown drastic improvement this season. "Jeremy has gone from someone who didn't know much about the game when he got here to quite a player," he said. "He's been a force, like a bull in a china shop. In games where they let them play physical, he's done very well. Some of his better games are against good competition because they tend to let them play a little more."

His physical tools have drawn the most attention - "He's a little bit of a freak of nature with his huge hands and feet (size 22 shoes). He's got hands like a first baseman's mitt," Glenn said - but he's starting to develop the skills to go along with the body. He's got decent range out to 15 feet," Glenn said. "You've got to guard him facing the basket in the high post. But he's toughest down low with his back to the basket. He has a nice drop-step and can use either hand."

Being new to the country, Barr had to adjust to the recruiting process, something he's still not entirely comfortable with. "It's almost foreign to him," Glenn said. "A lot of it will depend on the people around him to give him guidance."

Kentucky has been scrambling to fill its lone remaining scholarship for 2005 after missing out on its top forward prospects - Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Tasmin Mitchell (LSU), Korvotney Barber (Auburn) and Leo Criswell (Missouri) - along the way.

The Cats are also evaluating 6-foot-8 Maryland forward Uche Echefu and 7-foot-1 Georgetown (Ky.) Scott County center Jared Carter for the open spot, although the power forward position is a more immediate need with Chuck Hayes departing at the end of the season. - CatsPause.com



Feb. 7, 2005
Islander finds warm welcome
Westbury Christian's Jeremy Barr had a benefactor who knew he'd have to leave the Bahamas to go places in basketball By EMILY DAVIS Houston Chronicle

Three years ago, Jeremy Barr had never played basketball. Before the summer of 2002, the 6-8, 260-pound Bahamian had barely placed the tip of one of his size 22 shoes on U.S. soil - a short vacation in Miami was his only encounter with the country he now calls home.

Now Barr is the starting forward for defending TAPPS 5A champion Westbury Christian. He has 30 scholarship offers from elite NCAA basketball programs. He has been to New York, California and nearly everywhere in between pounding the hardwood and getting lingering looks from scouts for NBA teams. "I had this opportunity to come here and play basketball and do something I'd never imagined I would do," said Barr, 18. "It's something that is special for someone like me to be able to do."

Someone in his corner
Barr moved to the United States with the help of former University of Houston track and field standout and Olympic bronze medalist Frank Rutherford. A foundation Rutherford, also a Bahamas native, has established works with the Bahamian government and the Ministry of Sports to bring young men with athletic potential to the United States. Barr enrolled at Westbury Christian in search of an American education and the basketball career he was told he would be perfect for.

"It's an everyday kind of process," Barr said. "I still learn every day. I work hard to get better and bring my game to a better level."

It was that thirst for improvement that made Westbury Christian coach Greg Glenn welcome a shy 15-year-old into his gym nearly three years ago. When Barr joined the Wildcats, he didn't quite fit in on the court. He struggled to learn the rules and things such as how to make an outlet pass and grab a rebound without bowling over multiple defenders in the process.

A work in progress
In his first few organized games, Barr fouled out by the first three minutes. But his insecurities with the new sport have disappeared, and Barr is averaging a team-high 12.5 points and 5.9 rebounds as the center of the Wildcats' offense. "He was like a sponge," Glenn said. "He was so wonderfully teachable. It's like a coach's dream to have someone with that size and body come in with no bad habits. He didn't have any habits at all. So we just molded him and helped him work with the already natural athletic ability he had. Now we revolve around him."

Still, before Barr moved to Houston he never imagined he'd be the sensation he has become this year.

Leaving his parents and little sister behind in the Bahamas was a tough move. He missed his mother's cooking and his close-knit family.

He is one of three Bahamians who have recently moved to Houston with Rutherford's help. St. Puis offensive lineman Ian Symonette made the trip with Barr in 2002 and is one of the top-rated players in the 2005 recruiting class. This month, Westbury Christian welcomed another timid 15-year-old - freshman basketball player Dwight Miller.


Goodbye to the islands
So although he has never been alone, Barr needed time to shake the discomforts of being in a foreign land. With Rutherford doubling as his biggest supporter and critic, Barr is no longer homesick. He visits the Caribbean when he can, but basketball and an American education have become his new life.

"Westbury Christian is the perfect place for him," Rutherford said. "It's like a small family, and the Christian atmosphere is something that was really important to him and his family. We wanted to find the best basketball and educational combination for him. The Bahamian culture holds family and religion very high. So this was an atmosphere ideal for him. But he still had to adjust to playing. And since he's a natural athlete, I knew he wouldn't need much time to get there. Now look at him. He's ever-improving, and now he's at the point where he makes players around him better, too."

Now he's a leader
After helping the Wildcats claim the TAPPS title last season, Barr wanted to see his team get another championship. With an experienced starting lineup behind him, the once-basketball novice is leading a team with a clear view of a goal most players never even bother imagining. "One more year has done a lot for us and me," Barr said. "And I think we're even better now than we were then. So another title would be great. I think I've gotten to the point where people don't see a big guy making mistakes. Now I have worked to be an addition to this team."

But to the Wildcats, he's much more than just an addition. That's clear as they watch Barr rip down rebounds with his well-defined arms, shove off defenders from his broad shoulders and spring from the floor with his muscular legs and special-ordered size 22s.

A perfect fit
To everyone around him, Barr isn't just their big man. He's that final piece that has made the last three years complete. "Everyone loves him," Glenn said. "I see great things from him no matter where he goes after high school. He's like a teddy bear that everyone wants to be around. He's got a big shoe but an even bigger heart."

12/07/04: Jeremy Barr is one of the few remaining high-major big men left on the board and he's in no rush to take it off. The Bahamas native and Westbury Christian (Texas) 6-8 1/2 senior has a handful of schools he's considering.

It isn't necessarily that Jeremy Barr is waiting for a particular school or isn't content with his current group of suitors. It's more than he wants to take care of business both on and off the court before he makes a college decision. "His focus right now is on finishing up school strong academically and also being able to focus on this season," said his guardian, Bahamas native and Olympic two-time bronze medalist Frank Rutherford. "I'm not really worried about it," Barr said of his decision. "I'm going to wait until the end of the season if I have to. Right now I just want to get better."

The 6-8, 260-pound Barr has only been playing organized basketball for three years since coming to the Houston area from the Bahamas. His rebounding and defense is ahead of him offensive game, but his low-post moves and scoring in the paint is finally starting to catch up to his defense.

"He continues to improve and it's largely due to his great work ethic and God-given ability," Westbury Christian coach Greg Glenn said. "He's been more consistent scoring this year and his feel for the game continues to improve. That's why he has such great upside."

"He's gotten a lot better and continues to improve," said Rutherford, who earned the medals in the triple jump and also starred at the University of Houston. "He's making huge leaps now that he's realized how to use his body, but he's still learning. If he puts it all together, who knows what can happen."

Barr, who is a senior at Westbury Christian (Texas) finished with 16 points and 5 boards in a victory this past weekend against North Broward (Fla.) at the Marshall County Hoopfest. Barr's potential and inexperience is part of what has numerous colleges in heavy pursuit. Obviously, his size is a major factor as well.

The four schools Barr mentioned as leaders for his services are USC, Oklahoma State, Arizona State and Colorado. Texas Tech is also in the mix. "If he was where we want him to be with his academic and basketball goals, he has enough on the table right now when we feel like he could make an intelligent decision and meet his needs," Rutherford said. "It's not as if he's not signing because he's waiting for other schools or anything like that."

10/24/04: "With the ACL injury to fellow post player Obi Ikeakor, 6-foot-7, 254-pound power froward Jeremy Barr will have to hold down the interior on his own for defending state champs Westbury Christian High School of Houston, Texas. Despite Barr's intentions to sign late, Coach Greg Glenn named four high majors that are seriously involved with Barr.

"As I expect with all of our guys, Jeremy will make a decision in the spring," said Glenn. "Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Colorado and USC are the schools that are still very much involved."

With his focus primarily on academics at the moment, Barr will visit schools prior to the spring signing period.

Barr, who is originally from the Bahamas and sports a size 22 feet and a 7-foot-3 wingspan, is still a little rough around the edges but is continually improving at the game he has only been playing for around three years.

At times, he looked good and full of promise this summer for the Houston Hoops AAU squad, and at other times he looked a little lost and over his head.

Coach Glenn, however, is confident that Barr will steadily grow into an impressive player. "Jeremy is very good and probably a little underrated," said Glenn. "He is really coming on and is fun to coach. He could be special." - RivalsHoops.com

08/3/04: Listed as the 22nd best player Texas, in his class . - RivalsHoops.com