Barnaba Heads To Dillard
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
After undergoing multiple head coaching changes during most of her high school career, Taylor Barnaba figures she should be prepared for challenges in college basketball.
The adaptability to play anywhere and for anyone, Barnaba thinks, is an asset she plans to embrace later this year at Dillard University in New Orleans.
The college signing ceremony for Barnaba at J.S. Clark Leadership Academy Friday afternoon, enabled her to look ahead to playing at Dillard, an NAIA program where she will operate as a point guard.
“I plan to bring the legacy that I created (at J.S. Clark) and move it over (at Dillard),” said Barnaba, who didn’t have much time for reflection due to an appearance in the running events at a nearby track meet.
Barnaba is fairly certain that the transition from Class 1A to college basketball won’t be that difficult.
During her years at Clark, Barnaba was exposed to different coaching strategies and the personalities that accompanied the revolving situation.
“I think anything that comes my way, I should be prepared. The coach (at Dillard) coaches hard and I’ve been through a lot since I started playing basketball,” Barnaba said.
Barnaba scored over 2,500 points during her career at Clark, but both she and current Bulldogs’ girls’ basketball coach Dewaskie Fuller feels Barnaba will also be dishing assists as a college player.
Clark appeared in three state championship games during Barnaba’s career there.
“During an all-star game last weekend, (Barnaba) was competing against players recruited by Division 1 teams and she was all over the court. I think that she showed that she can be a true leader all over the court, but at this point I would say she is going to play point guard,” Fuller added.
Fuller, who coached the Bulldogs to a Division IV-Select state championship game this month, said that during his short time coaching Barnaba, he developed an admiration for her approach to basketball.
“Taylor is the type of player who regardless of the situation is always going to make your team better. She might be considered short by some coaches, but I don’t think that is going to make a difference. In the all-star game, (Barnaba) was guarding players who were a lot taller and who came from higher classifications. When it comes to making the jump (to college basketball), I feel that is going to be a smooth transition for her,” said Fuller.
