Barnes Signs With Miami

May 4, 2000

Coral Gables, FL – Head men’s basketball coach Leonard Hamilton announces the signing of Miami Senior High guard Marcus Barnes to a national letter of intent to attend the University of Miami next fall. Barnes chose Miami over Southern California, Auburn, West Virginia and South Florida.

“Marcus (Barnes) is a hard nosed, tough and fiercely competitive player who brings needed skills to the point guard position,” said Hamilton. “He has always been an accomplished scorer but we think he can develop into a strong floor leader. He comes from a winning program and has been well coached which will help in the transition into our system.”

Barnes (6-2, 200) averaged 30.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season in leading the Stingarees to a 30-7 record and a trip to quarterfinals of the Florida High School 6A Basketball Tournament.

“I wanted to stay close to my family,” said Barnes who plans to major in business. “Miami is also a program on the rise and I think coach (Leonard) Hamilton is a wonderful coach.”

Barnes, a two-year starter and team captain at Miami Senior, led Dade-County in scoring and was a third-team All-State and first-team All-Dade County selection this season.

“Marcus Barnes is one of the most underrated point guards in the nation,” said recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. “He is a tremendous defensive player and a tough-as-nails competitor. With the signing of Barnes, Darius Rice, and Joe Gordon this spring Miami has put together one of the top recruiting classes in the nation.”

Barnes is the fifth player to sign with Miami joining 6-10 forward Darius Rice (Jackson, MS), 6-2 guard Joe Gordon (Palm Bay, FL), 6-10 forward/center Reo Logan (Country Club Hills, IL) and 6-2 guard Rashid Dunbar (Bayonne, NJ).