Dee Barnes discusses his transfer to Great Mills HS & College Recruiting.
Dee Barnes, 6’4″, PG/CG, 2018. Great Mills Hornets HS. Great Mills, MD.
Grassroots Team: District Basketball Club
Last week Dee announced he was transferring from Kings Christian Academy to Great Mills HS who play in the Maryland Chesapeake Division of the SMAC conference in Southern, MD. We chatted with Dee over the weekend & he said, ” There was only one reason I transferred to Great Mills which was greater competition. I am sad to leave KCA & I will always be close to Kings Christian Academy. My family & I feel as though this is the best decision for me moving forward, I believe that this decision will be good in prepping me for college and I believe that I will fit into the system well. ”
This season Dee will be making a transition from WG to PG. Dee says,”My move to PG will be challenging & I know I can succeed as our PG at Great Mills. This was a joint decision between Great Mills Head Coach Jeff Burrell & myself. PG David Oliveras has graduated from Great Mills & he is playing college basketball in New York. I believe I can translate my position change & become a PG in college.” Dee will be an impact player for the Hornets with potential to named to the All SMAC after the season, but Dee says,”Winning games & a championship are much more important than personal accolades. I want to get my teammates involved & perform my role to perfection. This season I will need to become an extension for Coach Burrell when Great Mills is playing.”
This past weekend Dee visited Catawaba College, located in Salisbury, NC with his parents. He left Maryland at 12pm & arrived at Catawba @ 6pm. Very shortly after his arrival, Dee scrimmaged with the varsity for about 1 hour. Next Dee had an individual workout with Head Coach Pete Perron, where he performed shooting & ball handling drills. John McRae was Dee’s host for his visit. Last season John (6’6.5″ WF) started at DeMatha Catholic & really came on in January thru last seasons conclusion. On Saturday he had a team breakfast, then met with the Coaches *& afterwards Dee received an academic & campus tour. At 6pm Dee & his family left Catawba for their 6 hour trip back home. Dee said, I was impressed with the Coaches, team, and Catawaba, The campus is very nice, family oriented with very good academics.”
We last met with Dee in person at the DMV Elite 80 Invitee Only Showcase in Bowie in mid September. He was in elite physical condition with a very lean & strong frame. Dee excels in the mid range game & displayed an improved handle. We really like his shot mechanics & great range. He is very fundamentally sound, plays solid defense & get rebounds. Dee is a leader & performs all the intangibles. His IQ, court vision & passing skills are excellent. Dee is a winner, a great teammate who will become an excellent player at the next level.
Last season Kings Christian Academy compiled a 22-1 record and won the Maryland State Christian Championship in addition the MISAL championship. Dee averaged 21 ppg, & 2 steals for KCA. This summer he started at guard for the District Basketball Club 17U where the DBC & Dee had a very successful season. Dee adds, “The DBC plays a very aggressive high up tempo game with on ball pressure. Coach Booth & Coach Williams stress conditioning and I do not get tired during games. My athleticism, vertical & explosion have all gone up under Coach Booth & KCA Assistant Coach Dothard. Additionally, my man to man defense, full court pressure & footwork have improved. I am getting lower on defense & my lateral quickness is better. Overall it was a great experience playing for The DBC & I am looking forward to playing for Great Mills this season.”
Last season & this summer Dee proved he can score from all 3 levels and out of the triple threat. From the 3 point line he can convert from beyond the college 3 point line from both sides, on or off the dribble. His pull up game is excellent. Dee can attack the rim off the dribble & has greatly improved his ability to turn to the corner with acceleration & a nice burst. Dee adds, “Playing for the DCBC, I improved greatly at finishing at the rim thru contact. My go to move is my jab step and hesitation & go, & I love to get out and run transition.” We have seen Dee score from coast to coast off the dribble & make the correct pass when he is leading the break. He fills the lanes very well & can score on alley oop dunks or lay ins. We firmly believe Dee will transfer all of his skills to Great Mills HS & the SMAC this season.
Dee added,”Great Mills system is a get up & go style of play and I feel that out in the open floor is when I pose a bigger threat. My priorities are to get a feel for a bigger environment and to continue to excel and grow as a young man as well as a basketball player. As our PG I need to be total player on both sides of the ball & our team leader. My 1st priority at PG will be to get my teammates involved & run our half court sets. At Great Mills I will place great emphasis on my facilitation skills, creating ball movement & spacing. I will need to make the correct decision & timing on what I do with the ball: when to pass, attack the rim, or go for a basket.”
After the District Basketball Club season concluded this summer, Dee continued & continues his workouts on a daily basis to become a better player. He performs basketball skill drills & strength & conditioning with his Trainer, Coach Damien Rivers. Dee says,“We are working on footwork & my overall athleticism, using plyometrics such as resistance bands, ladders, & jumping rope.” Dee has improved his explosion, getting to his desired destination with less dribble, & overall shooting skills, & ball handling thru the present. This fall we are placing a great emphasis on my ball handling, but I will continue to work on all of my basketball skills, strength & conditioning, & athleticism for the rest of my basketball career. There is no such thing as a perfect basketball player.”
In the classroom Dee carries an excellent 3.2 GPA & currently is considering majoring in Sports Management. His role models are his parents (Kimberly & Shun) and his uncle Coach Tubby Smith who was born & raised in Southern, MD & currently the Head Coach of the Memphis Tigers. Dee is receiving interest from Norfolk State, Mt St. Marys of MD, St Thomas Aquinas, Concordia, Catawba, Canisius & Memphis State. In our opinion Dee is on the border of an upper D2 & D1 mid major level collegiate player. In our opinion Dee could take another step up in his basketball development this season playing PG & we believe he will. Dee is very close to his family & his choice of which college to attend will be a family decision. Whatever decision Dee & his family make, we know that Dee will succeed on & off the court. We have gotten to know Dee very well & in talks with college recruiters they echo what we say about Dee. He is fantastic young man, a great player & a very hard worker with a great passion for basketball & others.
This season Dee will be an impact payer for Great Mills HS who play in the Southern MD Athletic Conference which consists of 14 schools. The SMAC has two 7 team conferences, The Chesapeake Division & The Potomac Division. The 14 schools are located in either Charles, Calvert or St. Marys Counties. Great Mills is located in Southern, MD, in St. Marys County. Dee’s new school is just 20 minutes from Point Lookout which is the furthest point south in MD on the western shore. We will be covering Dee & the SMAC this season with live game reports & player articles.
SMAC Chesapeake Division
Huntingtown Hurricanes, 4125 North Solomons Road,Huntingtown, MD. Last season 17-7 overall, SMAC Record 10-2.
Calvert Cavaliers Basketball, 600 Dares Beach Rd, Prince Frederick, MD 20678-4235. Last season 14-9 overall, SMAC Record 10-2.
Great Mills Hornets Basketball, 21130 Great Mills Rd, Great Mills, MD 20634-2344. Last season 12-11 overall, SMAC Record 9-3.
Northern Patriots Basketball, 2950 Chaneyville Rd, Owings, MD 20736-9665. Last season 7-16 overall, SMAC Record 5-7.
Patuxent Basketball, 12485 Rousby Hall Rd, Lusby, MD 20657-2793. Last season 5-18 overall, SMAC Record 4-8.
SMAC Potomac Division.
Westlake Wolverines Basketball, 3300 Middletown Rd, Waldorf, MD 20603-3705. Last seasons overall record, 10-8 SMAC record 9-3.
Lackey Chargers Basketball, 3000 Chicamuxen Rd,Indian Head,MD20640-3404. Last seasons overall record 17-7, SMAC record 8-4.
St. Charles Spartans Basketball 5305 Piney Church Rd, Waldorf, MD 20602. Last seasons overall record 17-7, SMAC record 8-4.
North Point Eagles Basketball, 2500 Davis Road, Waldorf, MD 20603. Last seasons overall record 14-10, SMAC record 8-4.
Thomas Stone Cougars Basketball, 3785 Leonardtown Rd,Waldorf,MD20601-3652. Last seasons overall record 15-9, SMAC record 6-6.
La Plata Basketball. 6035 Radio Station Rd, La Plata, MD 20646-3369. Last seasons overall record 6-17 , SMAC record 3-9.
McDonough Rams Basketball. 7165 Marshall Corner Rd, Pomfret, MD 20675-3047. Last seasons overall record, 4-20 SMAC record 0-12.