The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/49933
I BY BRIAN RAPP t's no surprise that freshman new- comers to athletic teams often provide a spark, livening up team chemistry with their eagerness to learn and youthful enthusiasm. NC State freshman Krystal Barrett cer- tainly personifies those traits — so much so that Wolfpack women's basketball coach Kellie Harper refers to the Dallas native as "our sunshine." "I don't know how you'd describe her personality — she can just light you up," Harper explained. "Everybody loves her." If Barrett's contributions to the 2011-12 Pack simply stopped with her ability to keep her teammates loose and smiling, that would be a valuable ad- dition for a squad seeking to rebound from last year's disappointing 14-17 re- cord, only the sixth losing season in the 35-year history of the program. But the 5-9 guard has proven to be far more than just a morale booster through the Pack's first six outings this season. In her debut performance with the Red and White, Barrett netted a team-leading 14 points in 19 minutes in NC State's 79-41 exhibition win over North Green- ville (S.C.) on Nov. 6. She followed that "She can shoot the three, she can drive and she can pull up and hit the jumper. She's got all three phases of the game offensively." ■ Head coach Kellie Harper on Barrett up two games later with another team- leading tally of 16 points in the Pack's 83-64 victory over UNC Wilmington on Nov. 16, 15 points (tied for second in scoring) in an 85-79 road win at TCU on Nov. 20 and a third team-high effort of 14 points (with a to-date career-high four rebounds) in an 80-42 thumping of Jacksonville on Nov. 23. Through six games, Barrett was NC State's fourth-leading scorer, averag- ing 9.8 points per outing, and she was playing an average of 19.8 minutes per game, the most of any of the Pack's non- starters. She also went 4 of 12 from behind the arc, third-best on the team. "I just feel like I do what I can for the team to be successful," Barrett said. "Whether it's making a defensive stop, or getting a rebound, whatever — if it's not scoring, then I have to do those things." 46 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Scoring Ability And Positive Personality Make Freshman Krystal Barrett A Bright Addition To The Pack SRAY OF While Barrett's early scoring success may have been a pleasant surprise for Pack followers, it was no surprise for her coaches. "We knew when we recruited her she could score in a lot of different ways," Harper said. "She can shoot the three, she can drive and she can pull up and hit the jumper. She's got all three phases of the game offensively. "And she's also a very good defender. Plus, she picks things up very quickly — and even when she doesn't know ex- actly what she's supposed to do, if she just plays basketball, she's good. She's got some natural savvy for the game, so whenever she gets a little hesitant, I'm just telling her, 'Play basketball.'" The third of six children of Emmanuel Barrett and Traci Cole, the freshman guard developed her feel for the game at an early age. "None of my brothers or sisters played, but I started playing pickup games with the boys in my neighborhood when I was really young," Barrett said. "I also had a couple of coaches in my elementary school that saw my potential and encour- aged me to go out for basketball and track — and I've done both since I was in third grade." Her four-year prep career at Dallas' Skyline High School culminated with a senior year in which she averaged 21.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 steals, 2.9 assists and 1.4 blocked shots a game, leading to her selection as a Texas Mc- Donald's All-American and a top-100 national player ranking by ESPN's Hoop- Gurlz.com, Premier Basketball Report and PeachStateHoops.com. Though her father hoped Barrett would choose a college close to home, she said her final choices from a long list of suit- ors came down to Miami, Kansas, Florida and NC State. "If I was going to be away from home, I was looking for a school or team that UNSHINE would feel like family," Barrett said. "Coach Kellie was the difference — I felt, after talking to her and visiting here, that I'd have no worries being so far away from home. I just didn't feel that connec- tion with anyone else — I didn't even take any of my other planned visits after coming here." She's adjusted pretty well to the 2,000- mile distance from home, not to men- tion the different size and pace between Dallas and Raleigh — helped in part by having two other Texans among the three other members of the class of 2011 re- cruiting group she is rooming with this school year. "I played against Kiana [center Kiana Evans] in high school, and we played for a time on the same ASAU team," Barrett explained. "My high school coach told me she was coming here, too, and she came to watch a few of my games back in Texas, so we got to know each other before we got here." Barrett will have another familiar face as a teammate next season, when Man- sfield, Texas, native Ashley Eli arrives after signing her letter of intent in No- vember. Eli and Barrett both played for the same coach, Marcus Jackson, in AAU ball. "He was a big influence on me — I don't know if I'd be where I am today if not for him," Barrett said. "He's one of the reasons I play so hard, because he taught you to believe in yourself no matter what your ability or how difficult things may get." It's that combination of confidence and enthusiasm that makes Barrett a very bright spot in a season that's gotten off to a promising start. ■ Through six games, Barrett was NC State's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 9.8 points per outing, and she was playing an average of 19.8 minutes per game, the most of any of the Pack's non-starters. PHOTO BY ROB BRADLEY