Duquesne gets verbal commitment from 2021 Ohio guard

Fabian Lara uses the word “goofy” when describing Andy Barba, a shooting guard who is Duquesne’s first verbal commitment in the class of 2021.

COMMITTED! ?? @DuqMBB pic.twitter.com/O8V7h7ZnPR

— Andy Barba (@andybarba5) October 28, 2020

Barba, who plays at the International Sports Academy in Willoughby, Ohio, announced on Twitter his intention to enroll next year.

“He has a lot of energy, with jokes, smiles and laughter when he’s in the gym,” said Lara, a coach at ISA. “And he’s always in the gym. He’s a tremendous kid and an incredibly hard worker.

“He was our best shooter (last season) and he got better (over the summer).”

Lara said Barba added 10-15 pounds during quarantine and now stands 6-foot-6, 205 pounds.

Barba, who graduated from ISA after transferring from Benedictine High School in Cleveland, will play for the ISA national post-graduate team during the upcoming 2020-21 season.

He committed to Miami (Ohio) as a sophomore at Benedictine, but de-committed after enrolling at ISA where the post-graduate team typically plays a national schedule.

Barba also has scholarship offers from Columbia, Kent State, Tennessee State and Youngstown State, and was attracting interest from Washington State and Texas A&M, Lara said.

Barba is a threat from beyond the 3-point line and has the size to guard wing players.

“He can guard bigger guys, still guard guards and be able to shoot the ball,” Lara said. “That’s a good combination to have. He has a chance to be a pretty good impact player at Duquesne.”

Barba is the second player from ISA to commit to Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot. Guard Mike Bekelja is a freshman at Duquesne and the brother of Dukes’ junior point guard, Sincere Carry.