#InsideTheZOU: Welcome Home, Jordan Barnett
2/3/2016 3:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Former top Show-Me State recruit transferred to Mizzou from Texas
By Andrew Melroe, Mizzou Strategic Communications
COLUMBIA, Mo. - When Mizzou Men's Basketball's newest roster addition, sophomore forward Jordan Barnett (St. Louis, Mo.), steps onto Norm Stewart Court at Mizzou Arena for the first time, the feeling should be familiar. As a senior at Christian Brothers College High School, Barnett put on the performance of a lifetime in the 2014 Missouri Class 5 State Championship game. He poured in 43 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and blocked five shots in an 86-77 overtime win over Hickman to claim the state title.
Barnett was named the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's All-Metro Player of the Year following his senior season after averaging 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the state champions. Rivals.com ranked Barnett as the 70th-best prospect in his class, when Barnett decided to begin his college career at Texas. After a year-and-a-half with the Longhorns and a head coaching change in Austin, Barnett decided to move on from Texas, and return to the Show-Me State.
"Once I officially decided to transfer, Coach Tate and I started to chat again," Barnett said. "From those chats, I thought, what better place to come back to than Mizzou? It was as simple as that."
Barnett and assistant coach Corey Tate's relationship began when Tate was Barnett's coach on the NIKE EYBL team, the St. Louis Eagles. Like Tate did back when Mizzou played in the Hearnes Center, Barnett is looking forward to giving the Mizzou faithful something to cheer about.
"I feel like I can bring some excitement to the team on the court," Barnett said. "Get some dunks in transition, feed my teammates with some good looks, just be a spark, offensively or defensively. Whatever is needed."
Already contributing to the team during practice, Barnett is eager to help the team when it counts.
"Just looking forward to being able to help," Barnett said. "It's been tough to just watch from behind the bench and not be able to contribute. I want to help this team win games."
Barnett will get his chance to contribute for the Mizzou after the end of the Fall 2016 semester, but not too long after one of his fondest memories of the Tigers occurred.
"Mizzou Hoops really got on my radar that final season in the Big 12 when they beat Kansas at home. Both teams were ranked in the Top 10, Marcus Denmon led the last-minute comeback, seeing everyone go crazy, I've never seen anything like it," said Barnett. "We will get Mizzou Arena rocking like that again."
The Tigers next host Ole Miss, Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Mizzou Arena, with live coverage on the SEC Network.
