Owen Barnes started on Boyle County's 2021 state tournament team. This season he hopes to help Danville win the 12th Region. (White Raven Media Photo)
Owen Barnes knows what playing in the state tournament at Rupp Arena feels like because he did it with Boyle County in 2021.
He averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game with 10 3-pointers and shot 43 percent overall from field and 62 percent at the foul line in 24 games as Boyle went 22-5, won the 12th Region and beat Paintsville at the state tourney before losing to Ashland.
He missed last season when he broke his femur at the first basketball practice and needed about an eight-month rehab. He’s healthy again now and hoping to get back to the state tournament in March. However, this time he’s playing for Danville after transferring this school year.
“Danville is just a better place for me to play and a different school. I didn’t know coach (Ed) McKinney. I never spoke to him before I transferred,” Barnes said. “I just blindly transferred and hoped the basketball part would work out. I really like him and how he lets us play. I like that style a lot and I like the school. I am having a lot of fun playing with these guys.”
Winning usually is fun and Danville is riding a six-game win streak after a loss to Pulaski County Dec. 3 going into the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic in Gatlinburg, Tenn., this week.
Barnes is the team’s leading scorer at 21.2 points per game and is shooting 54 percent from the field. He made only 10 3-pointers as a sophomore at Boyle but already has 13 this season and is shooting 44.8 percent from 3-point range.
“I used to never be a shooter but this past year all I did was just shoot when I was out. It has made me a better 3-point shooter. I have always been decent at the foul line but I am way better from 3 now,” he said.
Barnes has “no clue” what he does best on the court but McKinney likes the way he stuffs a stat sheet. He is the team’s second leading rebounder at 5.2 per game.
The athletic Barnes had 21 points, four 3-pointers, four assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a win over McCreary Central. He has 22 points, six steals and four rebounds in a win over Frankfort.
Barnes can easily dunk — “I could always jump and started dunking when I was 14,” he said — and often comes from off the ball to block shots or recovers in transition to block a shot. He’s not afraid to take a charge and is a willing passer.
“I have to get better but I like to play defense,” he said. “I kind of see us being the top team in the region and I know we will get better. I had never played with any of those people before but I love playing with them.
“Everybody on this team wants to win the region. That is our only goal. I think we have that set in stone that we want to win region and don’t care about any individual stats. I loved playing in Rupp before and want to go back.”
He wants to be the best player in the 12th Region.
“I have to hold myself that way and think I am the best player on the court every time I play,” he said.
He believes the three-day tournament in Gatlinburg will be good for team bonding and he’s hoping the competition will also challenge the Admirals.
Barnes, 18, opted to take the COVID year and will have another year of eligibility at Danville.
“Since I hurt my knee, it’s really a blessing that I have the COVID year,” he said. “That way I end up with a regular four-year playing career. My goal is to play college basketball and now I have this year and next year to make that happen.”
Football could even be a “possibility” next season. He played growing up before an injury his eighth grade year kept him from playing. He played a little bit as a high school freshman but has not played the last three years.
“It’s mainly because of the guys I would be playing with that has me wanting to play,” he said. “I always played receiver and safety. Growing up I was always better at football but I always loved basketball more.”
