University star Barnes Montverde-bound
One of the state’s top forwards on the move as a senior
The top basketball player in Broward County is leaving South Florida.
University School star forward Scott Barnes announced he was transferring to national powerhouse Montverde Academy on Monday.
“I would like to thank University School for the past two years of experiences and opportunities,” Barnes wrote on Twitter. “This year I will continue my journey and senior year at [Montverde] Academy. Lastly thank you for all my friends and teammates that pushed me to be the best I could be.”
U-School athletic director Paul Herfurth said he was disappointed by Barnes’ decision to transfer, not just because of Barnes’ basketball talent but because of how well-liked he is on campus.
“He’s been a tremendous addition to our entire school community, not just basketball,” Herfurth said. “But he’s been a great kid around campus, he’s very well-liked by his teachers, his peers. So it’s a tremendous loss, not just for the basketball program but, again, for the school community.
“But I’m so grateful to Scottie. He’s a tremendous young man and I wish him nothing but the best. He’s going to have great success in this game and in life.”
Barnes, who is ranked the No. 6 player in the 2020 class by 247Sports’ composite ranking, helped lead the Sharks to back-to-back state titles.
Barnes joins the No. 2 prospect in the nation, Cade Cunningham, at Montverde, which is located northwest of Orlando.
Barnes holds offers from many top programs, and he narrowed his college choices down to Kentucky, Oregon, Cal, Kansas, Miami, Florida State, Ohio State and Duke.
Barnes, who was a twotime Sun Sentinel Fab Five and All-County selection, averaged 14.5 points and rebounds 7.4 rebounds per game as a junior.
Barnes’ transfer comes after University School let title-winning coach Jim Carr go in May and hired former FAU assistant Ron Oliver.
“The greatness of Scott Barnes is he’s so unselfish, and his energy level is so high,” Carr said after this year’s state title game.
U-School played Montverde at the GEICO Nationals in New York, falling to the central Florida powerhouse. Montverde finished second in the tournament after losing the title game against IMG Academy.
Montverde has been the nation’s most successful high school program in its eight seasons under coach Kevin Boyle. The Eagles have a 118-17 record in that span and won the Geico Nationals tournament four times (2013, 2014, 2015, 2018) in the past seven seasons.
Boyle has tutored a steady stream of major college signees and current NBA players. That list includes 2016 NBA No. 1 draft pick Ben Simmons (76ers), 2018 No. 3 pick R.J. Barrett (Knicks) and 2015 No. 3 choice D’Angelo Russell (Nets).
Before migrating to Montverde, Boyle coached dominant teams at St. Patrick of Elizabeth, N.J., where his talent pool included 2011 No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers) and 2012 No. 2 pick Michael KiddGilchrist.
Montverde is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association, like University School. But the Lake County boarding school, which draws students from across the world, opts to not participate in the FHSAA playoffs in its power sports, which include basketball, boys soccer and baseball.
Orlando Sentinel staff writer Buddy Collings contributed to this report.