Cabot junior Jarrod Barnes proved himself as one of the state’s top quarterbacks in the fall of 2015 and has orally committed to the University of Arkansas to play football.
But it was the Class 7A state basketball championship game in March where Barnes may have had his finest hour as a Panthers athlete.
At a glance
SCHOOL Cabot
CLASS Junior
SPORTS Football, basketball, track and field
NOTEWORTHY Rushed for 17 touchdowns to help Cabot win the 7A/6A-East Conference championship. … Reserve guard on the Panthers’ Class 7A state championship basketball team. … Won the Class 7A title in the long jump.
Cabot was playing for its first state championship and was going up against University of Kentucky signee Malik Monk and Bentonville. Panthers Coach Jerry Bridges recalled how Barnes, a guard, took that game as a personal challenge, to hold Monk under 20 points.
Mission accomplished.
Barnes and the Panthers held Monk to 19 points, and Barnes scored 14 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter to lead Cabot to a 59-49 victory in front of an overflow crowd of 6,500 at Summit Arena in Hot Springs.
“I took it personally,” Barnes said. “I don’t like anyone getting better than me. If I held him under 20 points, it made me feel like we can win the game.
“I was just determined not to lose. I wanted to win the ring.”
It’s Barnes’ efforts on the basketball court, football field and in track and field that made him this year’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Male Athlete of the Year.
“His name stands up there at the top,” Bridges said. “He’s one of the better ones in all sports.”
Barnes, 5-11, 173 pounds, helped lead Cabot’s football team to a 10-1 record and a 7A/6A-East Conference championship. In Coach Mike Malham’s Dead-T offense, Barnes rushed 111 times for 1,090 yards and 17 touchdowns and completed 15 of 44 passes for 223 yards and 2 touchdowns. Barnes is set to move to wide receiver in college.
On the basketball court, Barnes was Cabot’s sixth man. While averaging seven points per game, Barnes’ defensive prowess was just as crucial for Bridges.
“He was a lift off the bench,” said Bridges, who had started Barnes as a sophomore. “He was more relaxed.”
In the spring, Barnes was successful in track and field as well. He won the 7A state title in the long jump, leaping 22 feet, 3 ½ inches, and finished third in the triple jump (44-3 ¾ ).
“What he does on that football field, he can be a freak on the football field,” Bridges said. “He wins state in the long jump. He can be a decathlete if he wanted to be.”
Several high school athletes have decided to focus on one sport. But for Barnes, participating in three sports is a priority.
“Football is my first sport. I should focus on that,” Barnes said. “But I like being active throughout the year. I’m good at track and basketball. I just keep on playing those. They keep me in shape. It helps with agility and quickness in football.”
Bridges met Barnes when he was in the sixth grade. But it wasn’t until the 2015-2016 season, Bridges said, that Barnes realized how good he could be, citing his maturity and work ethic.
“I really believe over the last year, the light went on in his head, where he said, ‘I have a better opportunity to change my situation.’ ” Bridges said.
“I’ve coached some good athletes here and there, but I haven’t had one with the impact of him at this size of school.”
Barnes has one more year left at Cabot before heading to college. Bridges said he looks forward to seeing Barnes in a Razorbacks uniform, should he keep his commitment.
“His dreams are my dreams,” Bridges said. “I can see him on Saturdays, wowing the whole state in the near future.”