Rumson-Fair Haven Basketball Standout
Now Shining Beyond the Arc at Temple
20 APRIL 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY TIM MORRIS
Brendan Barry has a simple explanation
as to why he is playing Division I
college basketball. He fully admits it’s
not his speed or even his athleticism.
“I shoot it pretty well,” the former
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School
great said in an understatement. “Shooting
has been my ticket to the highest level.”
Barry remarked that his long-range
shooting “makes me a threat and gets me
On the court, 6-foot-2 Barry becomes a
player defenses have to take into account. If
they don’t, they’ll pay with a three-point shot.
There’s a place on any team for such a player.
During his three years at Dartmouth College,
before transferring in 2020-21 to Temple University,
Barry established himself as one of
the country’s top three-point marksmen. He
ranks fourth among active players in threepoint
career accuracy (44.5). In 2018-19, he
Photo by Zamani Feelings, Temple University. Brendan Barry has been one
of the country’s top three-point marksman throughout his college career.
Barry starred at Rumson-Fair Haven, where he set scoring records and led the
Bulldogs to a Shore Conference Tournament championship.
led the Ivy League in three-point shooting
percentage and ranked 10th nationally at .445. He is now continuing his accuracy
with the Temple Owls, leading the team at .426 this season.
Ever since he picked up a basketball, his uncanny accuracy has been
his trademark and his ticket to the highest levels of college basketball.
That success started and still continues in any gym or playground where
there’s a basket for him to hone his shooting skills on.
“I have a ton of different drills,” said Barry.
different stations adding up to 105. He practices getting shots off from
screens, off the dribble and catch-and-shoot situations he would experience
during a game.
Barry forged a legendary career at Rumson-Fair Haven where, as a
four-year starter, he led the Bulldogs to 111 wins. He set career (1,812)
and single-game (50) records for points. Barry put on an unmatched shooting
exhibition in the Shore Conference Tournament championship game
his senior year that left fans at Monmouth University in awe. He out-scored
the entire Christian Brothers Academy team in the second half, leading the
Bulldogs to an upset win.
“His frosh year, I had silent practices to get him to be more vocal,”
he said. “By his junior year he became the greatest player in RFH boys’
basketball history and maybe was still the quietest, but he could shoot!”
Champeau added that “no one worked harder” than Barry.
Barry took that talent and work ethic to Dartmouth where he was a
two-year captain. Besides his long-range shooting, he led the team in assists,
twice proving he’s not just a one-dimensional player. After establishing
himself at Dartmouth for three years, he missed his senior year due to
a hip injury, and that created a quandary for
the ex-Bulldog. He was headed toward his
degree, but since Dartmouth and the Ivy
League does not allow graduate students
to play on the collegiate team, he had to
think of the best way to continue his basketball
career. He put his name in the transfer
portal and had several colleges express
an interest, including Temple. Barry was
still interested in returning to Dartmouth
(he held off on getting his degree, keeping
him eligible), but the Ivy League canceled
the 2020-21 winter sports season, so Barry
went to Plan B and decided on Temple.
“Temple recruited me the hardest,” Barry
noted. “It was all about the opportunity to
come there and play minutes.”
As a senior, Barry saw himself as someone
who could bring valuable experience and
leadership to a young team. Barry gave the
Owls what they were looking for.
“We are excited to welcome Brendan to
the Temple family,” said Temple Head Coach Aaron McKie in a university
Barry wasn’t worried about having to make adjustments from the
half-court since Ivy League schools play to the more up-tempo American
Athletic Conference.
“I knew what I was going to do. I’ve been doing it all my life,” he
explained. “I was pretty comfortable. I just wanted to step in and make
an impact.”
Temple, Barry pointed out, has used him as both a scorer and a decoy,
someone who can stretch a defense and get open shots for his teammates.
Barry said the 2020-21 season has posed “unique challenges” with
the pandemic and adjusting to a new school and new teammates.
“I try and make the most of each day,” he said. “I’m getting used
to the protocols. I try and be as safe as I possibly can. It seems like it’s
been the longest season I’ve been through. I’m thankful to be back after
missing last year.”
When the college season ended in March, Barry had another
decision to make. With the NCAA not counting this season against an
athlete’s eligibility, he could return to Temple, or he could play professionally
overseas in Europe. Even should he choose to return to Temple,
Barry still plans on pursuing a professional career.
“Once I’m done in college, I want to be a pro overseas in Europe,”
he said. “I want to travel the world, and basketball has taken me to
many places.”
He can thank his incredible shooting ability for that.
/TheJournalNJ.com