Barker a ‘reluctant superstar’ Versatile senior leads Bears against Vermont

loading...

ORONO – Bracey Barker is a player who is difficult to classify on the basketball court.

At 6-foot-1, the Bar Harbor native can provide the University of Maine with a polished offensive presence inside, be a tenacious rebounder, or serve as a shot-blocking defender.

The senior co-captain is equally comfortable popping out to shoot a 3-pointer, running the floor in transition, or dribbling through full-court pressure.

That is why Barker has been such a valuable contributor during her career.

“I think she’s one of the hardest players in the league to guard because of her versatility,” said Hartford coach Jennifer Rizzotti.

Barker, a three-time all-conference pick who was a unanimous first-team selection this season, hopes to utilize all her skills in leading sixth-seeded UMaine (13-14) into today’s 2 p.m. America East quarterfinal game against No. 3 Vermont (18-11) at The Events Center in Vestal, N.Y.

“We’re going in thinking it’s 0-0 and the records don’t matter,” Barker said. “The seniors, we know any game could be our last game, so we’re going out there with that mentality and we’re going to play as hard as we can for the full 40 minutes.”

Barker will leave UMaine as one of its most well rounded and productive players. The former Mount Desert Island High School star has scored 1,144 points, 12th on the Black Bears’ career list, while grabbing 544 rebounds in 108 games.

Barker is only the seventh UMaine player to surpass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.

This winter, despite missing five games with a fracture in her right wrist, she leads the nation in free-throw percentage at .928 (89-for-96) for which she is on pace to set school season and career marks.

“I think she’s one of the best players in the league. She’s the real deal,” said Vermont coach Sharon Dawley.

Barker ranks fourth in AE scoring with 15.1 points per game, is third in rebounding (6.8) and blocked shots (1.43) and leads the way in defensive rebounds (5.04).

Bears coach Ann McInerney marvels at Barker’s considerable basketball skills, especially facing constant double- and triple-teaming.

“Her versatility is so key, especially in end-game situations,” McInerney said. “She can post up a smaller guard or can take a bigger player away from the basket.

“She’s probably one of the few players in the league that has played all five positions on the court many different times,” she added.

Barker developed her diverse skills while growing up in a basketball family. Her father, Burt, played at MDI and at Springfield College, as did older sister Brianne. Older brother Brent, who coaches the MDI girls, also played college ball.

The elder Barker, knowing Bracey likely would be tall like her sister, made sure she developed guard skills early. Even after Bracey finally had her big growth spurt, coach Barker had his daughter playing point guard at MDI.

Her combination of height and guard skills made her a an impossible matchup for opponents, as the Trojans’ three straight Class B state titles and Barker’s back-to-back All-Maine first-team honors attest.

“When I played for him [dad] I was the point guard but I would play defense on [opponents’] post [player],” Bracey said. “I got a little bit of everything and I think that helped since I am a taller guard and I can have those guard skills and also be down in the post.”

The same versatility that has made Barker a UMaine mainstay also may have slowed her arrival in the starting lineup and kept her from specializing at a particular position.

As a freshman, coach Sharon Versyp had Barker working mostly as a guard. She played only seven minutes per game.

“It makes you a better player when you have to sit out and wait your turn,” Barker said.

As a sophomore, she was groomed as a power forward, where she had never played. She began to hit her stride, earning AE third-team honors.

When McInerney arrived last season, Barker played more as a small forward. This season, she has been around the paint.

Barker has worked diligently, adapting to whatever role she was asked to fill. And though she has, for the last two seasons, been the unquestioned lynchpin of the team, she hasn’t let that change her approach.

“She is as humble a star as I have ever coached,” McInerney said. “She’s so gracious, a tremendous team player.”

Barker’s worth to the team was most evident in December, when she was injured at Holy Cross. With her out, the Bears lost four straight games.

With good fortune and the excellent care of Bangor hand specialist John Pyne, Barker returned a month later.

“I think it made me appreciate playing basketball and how quickly it can get taken away from you,” Barker said. “I was lucky enough to have a second chance and come back and play.”

And playing for UMaine was Barker’s dream ever since, as a child, she watched the likes of Cindy Blodgett and Jamie Cassidy at Alfond Arena.

During her four years in Orono, the kinesiology/health fitness major has been focused on maintaining the integrity of the program.

“I think it’s so special to wear the uniform and be from Maine and support your state; just to be a representative and a role model and to give as much as you can,” Barker said.

McInerney knows Barker, who may consider continuing her playing career overseas or coaching someday, will play a key role in UMaine’s fortunes in the league tournament.

“She’s playing with a sense of purpose,” McInerney said. “She’s humble but she knows what it takes to succeed. She’s a reluctant superstar out there.”