Natalie Barnes is a Coffee County Lady Raiders phenom who gained a starting position as a freshman and just finished her junior year. Barnes excels in both school and sports. With her junior year ending, she has decided to further her education at Samford University once her high school career is over.

I had the chance to speak to Barnes and dive deep into how she thinks when it comes to her team, her school, and her future. Barnes shows a great respect to her team and the people in her life pushing her to be a greater player. Overall, she has an amazing drive to improve and is always proving to herself while keeping a modest mentality about it.

After getting to talk to Barnes, these were some of her responses.

The first question I asked was, “Out of everyone in your life, who pushes you the hardest to perform at your best?”  Barnes responded, “Probably my mom and myself. I am pretty hard on myself and she helps me stay motivated.”

The second question asked was, “Out of all of your time playing basketball, what is your favorite memory?” Barnes replied, “Probably going to the state tournament last year would have to be my favorite.”

The third question asked was, “After high school what would you say are your dreams and aspirations?” Her response was, “I plan to go to school at Samford and be athletically and academically successful after that to find a good job.”

The fourth question asked, “What about Samford made you want to commit?” She responded “Probably the culture felt more like a family when other colleges felt more like a business.”

The final question I asked was, “How do you feel about next year being your last year at Coffee County?” Her response was, “It’s a bittersweet feeling leaving but I’m excited to play at the next level and experience Samford.”

Natalie shows how dedicated she is to her team and her future. She proves this with her performance in school so she is able to be on the court. Barnes thrives in not letting her teammates down. Coffee County is excited to see what the future holds for this Lady Raider!