Taron Barker

10/15/02: After the first several preseason practices a year ago, Taron Barker often found himself sitting down in a daze, a little lost, a lot uncertain. "I didn't know what was going on," Barker said. "I didn't know what to do."

On Sunday night, after the University of Cincinnati's second basketball practice this season, the 6-foot-1 senior had a smile on his face and a bounce in his step.

Barker is expected to take over as the Bearcats' starting point guard. He is trying to be a leader and frequently helps freshman point guard Chadd Moore. "He's having a lot more fun than he did last year," UC assistant coach Keith LeGree said. "He's getting other people better. He's talking people up. You didn't see that a year ago. You saw a lot of frustration." Of course you did.

Barker was a two-time team MVP at Odessa (Texas) College. He was accustomed to being a leader and being one of the best players. Instead, he found himself regularly abused during practice by Steve Logan, who went on to be a consensus All-American.

At first, Logan confounded Barker, who tried to be physical but still couldn't stop Logan. The two almost came to blows several times during practices. By later in the season, Barker found himself studying Logan on and off the court, observing him, talking to him. "I had to talk to him to know what he was thinking," Barker said. "I wanted him to share his ideas. "He just came out and tried to embarrass you. Everything he did, it was like, 'I'm coming at you. You're trying to stop me from feeding my family.' That's how he took it, and that's how I've got to take it."

Barker appeared in 31 of 35 games, averaging 2.5 points and 11.3 minutes. He totaled 44 assists and 22 turnovers.

"I had to accept my role last year," Barker said. "That was the hardest thing for me. I didn't care if I had to get down on the floor and chase the ball around on my hands and knees, I just wanted to be out there. Now that I've got the opportunity, I have to capitalize on it. "I'm hungry. I want to go all out and just play hard every day."

Barker has set UC records for guards by bench-pressing 370 pounds - the most by any player on this year's team - and squatting 515. His arms measure 17 inches around, and he has just 8 percent body fat. "I don't know of any other guard in the country that's as strong as him, and I talk to a lot of strength coaches," said Scott Greenawalt, UC's assistant strength coach. "I'd say he definitely ranks among the top. That's going to be his biggest asset."

Moore, who is about 20 pounds lighter than Barker, found that out the hard way during a summer pick-up game in Laurence Hall. "I remember one time I crossed him (with a dribble) as hard as I could and tried to go by him, and he just tapped me with his forearm and I flew across the court." Moore said. "I knew then it was going to be tough."

Barker will help the Bearcats if he can maintain his 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, improve on last year's field-goal (.359) and free-throw percentages (.593) and hit some 3-pointers. He also has to play defense and make good decisions on fast breaks. "He's real important," UC senior Leonard Stokes said. "Somebody's got to bring it up the floor without turning it over. Last year, he used to be a little bit careless with the ball. This year, he's taking pride in taking care of the ball, getting guys in the spots where they need to be."

Said Barker: "I could be having a bad day outside of basketball, but when I lace up my tennis shoes, I know it's all business. "I've got to come ready to play and be focused because that's what my team is looking at me for. They're looking at me for leadership, and that's what I've got to bring to the table." - Enquirer.com




10/13/01:
http://www.cincypost.com/2001/oct/13/uchoop101301.html

8/1/01: Listed as the 3rd best graduating Juco PG in the country. - NBA Draft Report

July 01: Listed as the 34th best Juco player in the country. - CBS Sportsline

5/15: Listed as the 20th best Juco player in the nation. (Diagne is 9th, Hiram Fuller is 16th, Eric Bush, 18th) - PrepStars

5/9:
http://www.cincypost.com/2001/may/09/uchoop050901.html

http://www.oaoa.com/sports/sp050801c.htm

5/8: "The most interesting is Cincinnati's signing of 6'0 Teron Barker from Odessa (JC) TX. We knew the Bearcats were looking for a quick fix to replace Kenny Satterfield, who recently entered his name into the NBA draft, at point guard, but we're not sure he's good enough to do that, despite the fact he was ranked as the #8 point guard in the junior college ranks by Rick Ball in the Sporting News Pre-Season Yearbook last fall. A lot of college coaches saw Barker at the National Junior College Tournament in Hutchinson, KS and apparently he didn't play well, because they're telling us he's not good enough to even challenge Steve Logan at point guard spot. Obviously time will tell, but this could effect how high we rank the Bearcats pre-season next fall." - HoopScoop

5/8: "Taron Barker, a 6-foot point guard at Odessa College, has signed a national letter of intent to continue his basketball career at the University of Cincinnati. Barker averaged 12.8 points, 6.7 assists and 3.3 steals while leading Odessa to a 27-7 record and a spot in the final 16 of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I finals. He was an all-conference and all-region selection in each of his two seasons at Odessa as well as a two-time team MVP. "Taron is a strong, tough performer who loves to win," stated Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins. "I was very impressed with him as a person. I am very comfortable that he will be able to step in and contribute immediately." Barker is the fourth member of Cincinnati's 2001 recruiting class." - UC Bearcats.com

5/8: "When Taron Barker arrived at Odessa (Texas) College in 1999, he told assistant coach Matt Figger he dreamed of playing for the University of Cincinnati. “I just liked the way Bob Huggins did things,” Barker said. “He stayed on his players. You want somebody to stay on you; that lets you know they care.” Barker is going to find out just how much Huggins cares.
The 6-foot, 190-pound point guard said Monday that he has signed a national letter of intent to attend UC, where he visited this past weekend. “I think he can do a quality job at Cincinnati,” said Russ Blake of JucoJunction.com. “There are certain things he doesn't have, but he's tremendously solid. He's going to take care of the basketball, he's going to hit some open 3s and he's going to find people. That's all you can ask from a point guard.” Just 10 days after sophomore Kenny Satterfield told Huggins he was declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft, the Bearcats landed Satterfield's replacement. The UC staff hopes Barker can step right into the starting lineup, allowing junior Steve Logan to remain mostly at shooting guard for his senior season. “The door was wide open for me,” Barker said. “They told me what I wanted to hear: They're going to put the ball in my hands and go from there. “ ... My intentions? I'm trying to get to the Final Four.” Barker, a native of Racine, Wis., averaged 12.8 points, 6.7 assists, 1.7 turnovers and 3.3 steals while leading Odessa (27-7) to a spot in the final 16 of the Division I National Junior College Athletic Association tournament. He was a two-time team MVP and twice first-team all-region and all-conference. Figger said Barker has great court vision and doesn't make many mistakes with the ball. “He's got arguably the quickest hands I've ever seen in my life,” Figger said. “He bench presses over 350. He's probably going to be the strongest point guard in the country. “He's not flashy. You're not going to see him make behind-the- back passes or crazy stuff between his legs. But Taron ... does a great job of making people around him better.” UC got in late on Barker. Almost too late. He had narrowed his college choices to Connecticut and Auburn. When Satterfield left Cincinnati to ponder his decision, Barker heard from the Bearcats. Geoff Schimberg, assistant to the athletic director for basketball operations, has been helping with recruiting since former UC assistant Mick Cronin left for Louisville.
Barker and Schimberg hit it off. “He was a major factor,” Barker said. “He's a great guy. He was a funny guy; he always kept a smile on my face.” Barker said his official visit to UC, which began last Thursday night, “was great.” “Coach Huggins just made me feel at home when I got there,” Barker said. “He made me feel very welcome. It was just something special.” - Enquirer.com

5/8:
http://www.ctnow.com/scripts/editorial.dll?bfromind=687&eeid=4525282&eetype=article&render=y&ck=&ver=2.8

Barker wanted a coach to tell him straight up that he was going to start and that he was going to run the show out on the floor. Barker says only Bob Huggins and the Cincinnati coaching staff could tell him that. So, the 6-foot-1 point guard from Racine, Wis., by way of Odessa College in Texas, chose the Bearcats over UConn and Auburn. "It was between all three,'' Barker said Monday after a press conference in Odessa. "I've got two years left in college. I've got dreams just like everybody else that's playing. I want to go to the [NBA]. I don't know if I'm going to make it, but I want to be in the best situation for me."

Cincinnati had a hole to fill after point guard Kenny Satterfield declared for the NBA draft. Auburn couldn't promise Barker the starting job because of sophomore Jamison Brewer. UConn coach Jim Calhoun simply doesn't promise a recruit a starting job. And the Huskies have Taliek Brown, a McDonald's All-American who started at point guard as a freshman. "I would have loved to play at UConn," Barker said. "Coach Calhoun was telling me about the three-guard offense and all of that, but they've got Taliek, Tony Robertson, Ben Gordon. I think I make good decisions and I like to have the ball in my hands. I'm not a two-guard. I can shoot, but that's not my real position. UConn couldn't promise me a starting job, so I had to go with the best situation for me."

On Sunday night, Barker wasn't so enthusiastic about his visit to Cincinnati. "If it sounded like I didn't like it or anything, I didn't mean it that way," said Barker, who averaged 14 points and 7.5 assists last season. People close to Barker said he and Bearcats star Steve Logan did not get along during Barker's visit Thursday through Saturday.

Barker, a close friend of UConn's Caron Butler, said he tossed, turned and stayed awake until 4 a.m. Monday morning trying to make up his mind. And he had an 8 a.m. exam. "I was banging off the walls," he said.

Barker was the Huskies' top priority at the point guard position during the spring signing period. Some thought his relationship with Butler would deliver Barker, who apparently even told Butler on Sunday that he was coming to UConn. But both Barker and Butler had said their friendship would not be an overriding factor in the decision.

"I love `C' man, that's my boy," Barker said. "People from Racine, that's all they talked about, seeing us play on the same team together again. I would have loved to play with him. But I had to do what I had to do. I hope this doesn't break us up because that's my man. I don't think it will.'' Asked whether he talked to Butler on Monday, Barker quietly said no.

Barker said assistant coach Karl Hobbs' departure to George Washington University was not a factor in his decision. "Didn't have anything to do with it,'' he said. "It would have been the same thing if he stayed. I've got to have the ball in my hands and that's it.'' When Barker came to Storrs on his official visit, he looked exceptional. And he was extremely comfortable with the players on the floor. He looked to be just what the Huskies were looking for, a complement to Brown. But that's not what Barker wanted." - Hartford Courant

5/7: "Taron Barker wrestled with a tough decision after returning home from a visit to Cincinnati this weekend, but when all was said and done, the Bearcats made a lasting impression and landed the Odessa J.C. point guard. Taron Barker may have gone to bed as a UConn Husky on Sunday night, but when he woke up Monday morning, he was a Cincinnati Bearcat. Barker, a strong 6-0, 190 pound point guard from Odessa J.C. in Odessa, Tex., signed a national letter of intent today with the University of Cincinnati. "Last night, I thought he was going to Connecticut," Odessa Asst. Coach Matt Figger told JUCO Junction on Monday afternoon. "My conversation with him last night, that's where it sounded as if he were, although he never came out and said it. Then he came into my office this morning and said he was going to Cincinnati."

"His mind did a 180," Figger continued. "I think once he got past the emotional deal with Caron Butler [Barker's former summer teammate and a rising sophomore at UConn] and looked at what was going to best for him, Cincinnati had all of the answers -- 5 1/2 hours from home, they play in Milwaukee and Chicago a few times a year, so his family can hop in a car and see him play without missing work. In the end, that was huge." Barker had taken spring visits to Cincinnati, Connecticut and Auburn before casting his lot with Bob Huggins' Bearcats. "It was a tough decision for him, but I think in the end, he realized that Cincinnati had the best opportunity for him," Figger said. "As far as playing time and things like that." Kenny Satterfield, who manned the point guard slot for the past two seasons in Cincinnati, announced that he would forego his final two years of eligibility at the Conference USA school and enter the June NBA Draft. Cincinnati sold Barker on the fact that he could step right in and log heavy minutes with the departure of Satterfield. "When it came down to it, Connecticut had sold Taron on playing him and Taliek Brown together, but the thing with Connecticut was that they had Taliek Brown, Tony Robertson and they have Ben Gordon coming in," Figger said. "Those are facts." "Auburn has Jamie Brewer coming back, and he started every game at the point for them last year," Figger continued. "And they have Lincoln Glass coming back also. The thing that intrigued Taron about Cincinnati was that Steve Logan was the other kid coming back, and he's a senior." A native of Racine, Wis., Barker averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 assists per game in leading the Wranglers to the NJCAA Tournament at Hutchinson, Kan., this past March." - Juco Junction

5/7: "Barker signed with Cincinnati at 5:30 EST! With the loss of Kenny Satterfield and other turmoil currently surrounding program, Taron's signing is a welcome relief for Bearcat fans." - PrepStars

5/7: "Taron Barker was ho-hum Sunday about his visit to Cincinnati over the weekend. The 6-foot-1 point guard from Odessa College in Texas, is considering UConn, Auburn and the Bearcats. He said Sunday that he just wanted to go over a few things and make a decision no later than Tuesday." - Hartford Courant

5/3: "Junior college point guard Taron Barker is said to be leaning toward UConn at this point but still will visit Cincinnati this weekend. It is said Barker is the coaching staff's No. 1 option for a point guard to complement Taliek Brown." - Hartford Courant

5/2: "Taron Barker, an offensive-minded 6-0, 190 pound point guard from Odessa J.C. in Odessa, Tex., will take his third official visit this weekend to Cincinnati. With the departure of sophomore guard Kenny Satterfield to the NBA ranks this spring, Barker has become a key spring priority for the Bearcats. In recent weeks, Barker has visited both Auburn and UConn. His former summer teammate, Caron Butler, will be a sophomore next fall at the Big East school. Odessa Asst. Coach Matt Figger told JUCO Junction that he expects Barker to have a decision by next Monday, May 7. When asked to declare a leader for Barker's services, Figger hesitated. "It's hard to say, because each school kind of presents a unique situation," he said. "Taron liked Connecticut, and of course he's very close with Caron Butler. He had good visit to Auburn, he felt like he could go in there and start. I guess he played well down there in the pick-up games." "Auburn is still in the hunt, and Cincinnati is in an interesting position because they have no point guard," Figger continued. "The only guard that they have coming back who handles the ball is Steve Logan." - Juco Junction

5/2: "In case you're wondering, the sole top-25 juco soph who hasn't yet chosen a college is 6-0 Odessa (Texas) JC PG Taron Barker. His final six schools are Texas A&M, Illinois, Connecticut, Auburn, Iowa State and Minnesota." - Brick O., CNNSI

5/2: "a 6-foot point guard from Odessa (Texas) College, will begin an official recruiting visit to the University of Cincinnati Thursday night, Odessa assistant coach Matt Figger said Tuesday. UC is trying to find a point guard to replace sophomore Kenny Satterfield, who has told coach Bob Huggins he is turning pro. Barker, a native of Racine, Wis., averaged 12.8 points, 6.7 assists, 1.7 turnovers and 3.3 steals. He has visited Connecticut and Auburn the past two weeks and was offered scholarships by both, Figger said. “He's very cerebral,” Figger said of Barker. “He's a true point guard. He's not a combo guard.” Figger said Barker will need to take some summer classes but should be qualified academically, Figger said." - Enquirer.com

5/1: "The way Taron Barker sees it, he did his two years at the junior college level and now it's time to prove himself in the big time. The 6-foot-1 point guard from Odessa College in Texas wants to play a lot right away, understandable considering he has two years of eligibility left. Auburn has been recruiting Barker since the beginning of the process. UConn, which he visited this past weekend, has come on strong in recent months and Cincinnati has come on strong in recent days. Barker said he is still planning to VISIT CINCINNATI this weekend. the Bearcats appear to have the best situation to offer Barker, since guard Kenny Satterfield declared for the NBA draft last week. But the Bearcat who played just as much point guard for the Cincinnati last season will be back. Steve Logan - the Conference USA Player of the Year - will be a senior on a team that still is pretty loaded on the perimeter. Yet it was learned Monday that Cincinnati has started tracking another point guard. The battle for Barker's services is between UConn and Cincinnati at this point. At UConn, Taliek Brown runs the point and will be a sophomore next season. But the Huskies will use the three-guard offense as their bread and butter, which could put Barker on the floor as a starter with Brown and Tony Robertson. "I've worked so hard that I feel I can go anywhere and play next year," Barker said Monday night. "I wouldn't say [Satterfield leaving] gives Cincinnati the edge. I just want to make the right decision and the best decision I can because I only have two years left now." Barker also is concerned about national exposure. Auburn or Cincinnati probably will not get more exposure than UConn, one of the most nationally televised teams in the country. The opportunity to play with childhood friend Caron Butler also intrigues Barker. Barker, who averaged 14 points and 7.5 assists last season, was going about half-speed during pickup games at Guyer Gym this past weekend and was impressive as a complete point guard. Not only could the Huskies benefit from his ability, but his leadership, maturity, experience and desire to win would be a boost. "I'm ready to step in somewhere next year and just get going," Barker said. "I've done the JUCO thing and now I'm ready. Like I said, I've got two years left now and I don't want to waste any time." Barker said he was certain he wouldn't waste time coming to a final decision. "Everybody is going to know on Monday, I promise you that," he said. "Because I'm ready to get this thing over with." - Hartford Courant

4/29: "If Taron Barker plays the way he did during pickup games Saturday at UConn, the surgeon general may have to insist that warning labels be attached to his bio page because he could be hazardous to the opposition's health for the next two years. If he's not killing you with short, midrange and long jumpers - Shamon Tooles thought Barker was well out of bounds when he hit one of his threes from the corner - then he might twist your neck trying to keep up with his passes. Of course, his brick-like build and quick hands would be enough to wear down anybody he's guarding, too. Barker, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound point guard from Odessa (Texas) College, and Chad Wise, a 6-5 swingman from Lonoke (Ark.) High, were mixing it up with the veterans at Guyer Gym as part of their official recruiting trip to UConn this weekend. Barker, teaming with Caron Butler, a close friend growing up in Racine, Wis., Tony Robertson and Justin Brown, seemed comfortable and pretty much did what he wanted. Barker has visited Auburn and WILL VISIT CINCINNATI NEXT WEEKEND. He said he enjoyed playing with the Huskies and was enjoying his visit. "The people seem very nice, and it seems like a nice atmosphere here,'' said Barker, who averaged 14 points and 7.5 assists at Odessa last season. "It's very exciting. I've never been on the East Coast. It's all that I thought it would be.'' Barker said he will make his decision after he visits CINCINNATI. He said he wants to go to a situation where he can play right away, of course. He said he liked the coaching staff and the fact the Huskies are on TV a lot. But probably most important, "I just want to see how the people are. If can get along with a group of people, then I can see myself [at that school.]" Butler said he would love to have Barker come to UConn, but he wasn't going to pressure him. "I'm going to treat him like we were at home just kickin' it, having a good time," he said." - Hartford Courant

4/28: "Evans is a bigger (6-3, 200) guy who has a combo game. He's been described to me by someone who has seen him play as a guy who likes to slash to the hoop and use his size and strength to finish or dish. He has put up good outside shooting numbers, but against DII JC competition. Word is he is more of a slasher/scorer than a shooter. Also has a pretty good handle for a bigger guard. Iowa State has him on their final list now that Hatten is going to STJ's. Taron Barker also has Cinci on his list I hear now because of Satterfield. It may come down to these two choosing between UC and Iowa State. ISU is also on Andre Stanley from Globe Tech." - unknown post-er on Juco Junction
4/27/01: "If it isn't clear who Taron Barker is, it's possible to get a sense just by calling his voicemail. "People said I couldn't make it,'' the message says. "Now I'm bubbling like Alka-Seltzer. The truth, I am." Quick and to the point - from a point. Maybe it's a Racine, Wis., thing. But Barker exudes confidence like his friend, current UConn swingman Caron Butler. A point guard should be confident, and that's what Barker was for two seasons at Odessa College in Texas. Now he will try to determine where he will take his confidence and ability for the next two years. Barker, a 6-foot point guard and Chad Wise, a 6-5 swingman from Lonoke (Ark.) High, arrive today for official visits to UConn. "Some people say he's one of the best junior college point guards in the country,'' Odessa coach Orlando Ontiveroz said. "I think he is the best. He's not flashy, just extremely solid and he brings so many different things to the floor. He's a leader by example. He's a relentless worker. He's in the gym every day. His first year here he was shooting knuckleballs but he has spent so much time working at it that he has turned into a very good outside shooter, especially from three-point range." The UConn coaches are looking for someone to complement Taliek Brown. Other than Brown, the Huskies don't have a pure point guard. The staff is also focused on getting a point guard who can connect from long distance. "I can score, but I don't look to score first,'' Barker said. "My first responsibility is to run the offense and get everyone involved and then if I have to score I'm confident I can score.'' Barker averaged just over 12 points and seven assists for Odessa and connected on 45 percent of his three-pointers. But Barker's biggest asset might be his defense. Ontiveroz said he used Barker many times to guard the opposition's best player. The Huskies could also use a solid perimeter defender. Auburn and UConn are in the lead for Barker. CINCINNATI has entered the picture, but Barker said he wasn't sure if he was going to visit. Iowa State is making a late push, too. "Auburn has been there since day one,'' Barker said. "I know Caron is at UConn and we talked about it being a good situation because UConn has a record of producing good players. UConn is a program that gets a lot of exposure and that's a positive and playing with someone you grew up with your whole life, that's a big plus, too. I just want to check things out up there and see how it is." Said Ontiveroz: "His first year here, I had to get rid of some kids for disciplinary reasons and he played about 38, 39 minutes a game. We shouldn't have even made it to the regional tournament and we had a tough schedule. But we won six of our last seven games and made it because of him. He did everything I asked of him and he did it well. That's what Taron is really about. He's a winner." - Hartford Courant

3/01: finished the year with the following stats:
41% FG%, 40% 3pt% on 60/148 shooting;69% FT%, 12 ppg, 3 rpg, 6.7 apg (3rd in the league), 3.3 steals pg (2nd in the league). Started only 19 of his teams 28 games tho. They finished the year 23-5.

2/14: "...in the second half, (Coach) Ontiveroz put star point guard Taron Barker on Newell (who had scored 17 pts in the first half), and Barker held him to just six points in the second half. The rest of the team stepped up and extended the lead until the end of the game. "In the second half, we put Taron on Newell and he was scoreless while Taron was in the game." Odessa Newspaper

2/10/01: listed as the 30th best JUCO in the country. (Eric Bush is 13th, Pervis Pasco 28th) - NBADraft.net

1/18/01: Listed as one of the best 5 Juco PG's in the country. - Steve Wacaser, Sporting News.

1998: Taron Barker; 5-10 JR PG; JICase HS, Racine, WI (Bray Center Nike AAU, WISC) Named to the All Tournament team, as a junior. - Spiece Run N Slam Classic Notes.

1998: "Barker is even better, because he's an excellent defender with explosive hands and feet and is money in the back when you leave him open. But he can also create his own shot off the dribble and physically he's not small when compared to most guys his height. As a result, he deserves top 100 consideration nationally." - HoopScoop

1/16: "Taron Barker, a 6-0, 195 pound point guard from Odessa J.C. in Odessa, Tex., has seen high majors enter the battle for his services in recent weeks. According to Odessa Asst. Coach Matt Figger, Auburn, Illinois, Texas Christian, Texas A&M and CINCINNATI have all expressed a recent interest in Barker. Barker is averaging 16 points, 7.5 assists and less than one turnover per game for the 12-4 Wranglers this season, Figger said. Of the above programs, Figger said that Texas A&M has discussed setting up an official visit with Barker. JUCO Junction has had several occasions to watch Barker play, both as a member of the Bray Center traveling squad and at Odessa. Barker has always been a potent offensive player, who can hurt a defense with his finishing ability and long distance shooting." - Juco Junction