One of my favorite things to use is a take on David Letterman and his Classic Top Ten List. Tomorrow afternoon I will cross paths with our Head Coach in between Cross Country and Middle School Girls Basketball. Coach is having an informal scrimmage with our neighbors from Fort Chiswell at 4pm. The visit will be short but a visit just the same.

Without further ado.. the Top Ten reasons I Love Anthony Barnes and his program…

#10 – Relationships are built from within and they have lasting impact. A great example to start with is Greg Talley while Jabin was playing and Doug Reitzel when Davis was playing. Getting Jabin back involved this season is pretty cool.

#9 – Everything that Coach does is tied directly to the roots of his program and its history. A great leader taps into the program he or she is responsible for.

#8 – Jason Stockner… Is it possible to find someone who is more Carroll County than Coach Stockner ? Personal note : Jason would appear higher on the list once he shares more stories…

#7 – Blue Collar – Barnes is Old School / Throwback and leads his team in the same manner. It’s relatable to everyone involved !

#6 – The upcoming season ! Nobody gets to decide the perfect place or time to exit but if Barnes wanted to he could have rode off into the Sunset 🌇 after making it to the State Tournament last year. No Six Seniors, No Kris Richardson – it would have been easy to check out.

Now the Top #5…

#5 – Coach Brown, Coach Phillips – From Day #1, Barnes was hyped about adding Darian Brown to his staff and young Mr Phillips comes from the Paul Nester Family 👪 🌳…

#4 –  Mama Smoot and her fellas! Russell, Brayden and Bryce….

#3 – Anthony Barnes and his Unfinished Business….

#2 – Anthony Barnes and I share a common denominator. We both want his players to have the best opportunity to succeed well beyond their playing days on The Hill. Our work together the past few years has been priceless. Watching the growth of the players in his program and getting the opportunity to play a small part in it has been gratifying.

Drum Roll Please….

#1 – Kris Richardson – There’s simply nobody in Carroll County that I match up with in a better manner than my neighbor and friend, Kris Richardson. Separately Kris and I are enough to deal with but on the rare occasion when we are together it can be a bit much. Barnes and his level of tolerance for the two of us is the definition of putting the well being of the program ahead of his own ego…in a word…PRICELESS

  Ladies and Gentlemen, 10 reasons why we Love Anthony Barnes ❤. Coming soon to a Gym near you !!!

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From : Coach Barnes

” Thanks Jerry ! I appreciate the story, at the end of the day I want my players, former players and Coaches too take away something that stays with them in their next phase of life .”