The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
ISA’s Barba commits to Duquesne
In a year of unexpected developments, twists and turns, it should be no surprise that college life for some students in 2020 has been anything but traditional.
Case in point is former Benedictine boys basketball standout Andy Barba of Bainbridge Township.
He left Benedictine two years ago to finish up at Andrews Osborne in Willoughby and joined the upstart boys basketball program’s International Sports Academy.
Last season with ISA, the 6-foot-6 Barba was a starter and spent time at shooting guard and small forward
while averaging 14 points. The attraction to ISA provided Barba for what to expect as a college basketball player academically and athletically. The big pay-off was Oct. 27, when he committed to play at Division I Duquesne.
“It makes you more prepared for college basketball,” said Barba of ISA. “College-type school schedule. Classes for half the day, then basketball the rest of the day. It’s great competition.”
In a perfect world, Barba, who just turned 19, would already be on campus competing in his first D-I college basketball season, but the novel coronavirus pandemic squashed those hopes. Instead, Barba is taking on-line courses at Cleveland State that will transfer to Duquesne, and will play for ISA’s post-graduate team this winter.
ISA also includes the likes of former West Geauga standout and Youngstown State commit Josh Irwin and Gbolahan Adio, formerly of Richmond Heights. Barba said he will play about 30 games this winter. That plus another year of growing and getting stronger will help make Barba better prepared for the rigors of D-I college hoops.
“I’ve went from 188 pounds to 210,” said Barba of his transformation since enrolling at ISA. “I am getting a lot stronger.”
Leav ing Benedictine was a difficult choice, said Barba, but the move was the right one for him. Before selecting Duquesne, he fielded 15 other offers, including some from the Ivy League. He originally verbally committed to Miami (Ohio) before his junior year at Benedictine. Barba said he will major in business at Duquesne.