2021 Sharpshooter Andy Barba Commits to Duquesne

Duquesne added a skilled 3-point shooter in their last recruiting class with First Love Academy guard Jett Roesing.

Tuesday night, Keith Dambrot got a jump on his Class of 2021 by bringing in a sharpshooter from Ohio.

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Andy Barba (6-foot-6, 210 pounds) from International Sports Academy at Andrews Osborne in Cleveland gave Dambrot a birthday present by committing to play at Duquesne. Aside from Duquesne, Barba held offers from Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Missouri State, Washington State, Tulane, Texas A&M, Penn, Holy Cross and Denver.

COMMITTED! 🔴🔵 @DuqMBB pic.twitter.com/O8V7h7ZnPR

— Andy Barba (@andybarba5) October 28, 2020

Following his decision, Pittsburgh Sports Now spoke to Barba and asked what made Duquesne the right fit for him?

”First off, I really believe in Coach Dambrot and one of the most important things to me is winning and since he’s been there, he’s really turned the program around,” said Barba. “They keep trending upward since he’s been there and with the recruiting class above me and the things that he’s already instilled, I believe the winning will continue in the future.

”Secondly, I really trust their staff and I’ve known Coach Dambrot for 4-5 years now. I’ve really got to know him well recently and I trust him to meet my goals of playing professional basketball at the highest level. I’m also comfortable there because I know some of their players like Mikey Bekelja and Sincere. I’ve known them since I was in 4th or 5th grade. Mikey and I have become really close over the last year.

“Lastly, I really like the academic side of Duquesne. I’m really interested in business and I think I could have success off the court in their business school.”

Dambrot has been recruiting Barba since his freshman season and his family believes the Duquesne staff can utilize Andy’s offensive strengths and turn him into a dangerous player in the Atlantic-10.

”First and foremost, I believe that I’m an elite shooter and have confidence in myself that I can be one of the best shooters in the Atlantic-10,” said Barba. “I’m also a good player in transition and have the ability to make my teammates better. I’m a team player and willing to do anything for the team and my teammates.”

”Some things I need to work on is my defense,” he said. “I think with my size and athleticism I can guard anyone from the 2 thru 4 in college, which is what a lot of colleges were recruiting me to do. I believe I can also play anywhere from the 2 thru 4. Like Coach Dambrot tells me, you play what you can guard. Hopefully, when I get to Duquesne, Coach Dambrot can make me a bit more comfortable making plays with the ball in my hands”

Barba wanted to make sure to thank his coaches at  ISA and Benedictine High School. He becomes the first commitment for Duquesne in their Class of 2021.