Barnes named to 2021 Naismith Trophy watch list
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Seminoles.com
Scottie Barnes, who averaged 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in leading Montverde Academy to a 25-0 record as a senior in 2020, has been named to the watch list for the 2021 Naismith Trophy.
The Naismith Trophy has been awarded since 1969 to the top college basketball player in the nation. Barnes is one of eight players from the ACC and one of nine freshmen from around the nation on the watch list to begin the 2020-21 season.
Barnes was previously chosen to begin his freshman season as a preseason All-American Third-Team player by CBS Sports, a preseason All-ACC First-Team player by CBS Sports and the ACC, as the preseason Freshman of the Year in the ACC and as one of 20 candidates for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.
Barnes graduated from Montverde Academy in 2020 where he earned All-American First Team honors from both MaxPreps and Sports Illustrated. He was a finalist as the MaxPreps National Player of the Year and selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American game, the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit. Barnes led Montverde to victories over seven nationally ranked opponents during the season and to an eye-popping plus-39.0 points per game margin of victory.
Barnes helped the Eagles capture championship titles at the City of Palms Classic, the John Wall Holiday Invitational, the Montverde Academy Invitational and the St. James Invitational during the 2019-20 season.
At 6-foot-9, with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Barnes is a sensational all-around talent who defends with vigor, attacks the boards and flies in transition,” said Walter Villa of Lindy’s Sports College Basketball Annual.
Barnes honed his skills as a prep star as a standout player within the USA Basketball collection of stars.
Barnes was a member of the 2019 USA Men’s Basketball Gold Medal winning U19 World Cup Team as he led the United States to the tournament championship in Greece. He played in all seven games in the U19 World Cup and averaged 20.4 minutes played per game, 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steal while shooting .542 percent from the field. Barnes scored 16 points versus New Zealand; 16 points against Latvia; 13 points versus Russia and 11 points and totaled eight rebounds in USA’s win over Mali in the gold medal game. He also helped the United States win gold medals at the U17 World Cup in 2018 and the U16 FIBA Americas Tournament in 2017.
