As a lot of you already know, former Hutchinson Community College basketball player and Wichitan Cortez Barnes died in a car accident Sunday in Texas.
Barnes was a City League great who tore it up on the court wherever he went — including two years for the Blue Dragons, where his name still dots the record book. Current HCC women’s coach John Ontjes was a teammate when Barnes played in Hutch, and has some nice words about his former teammate in this release from Steve Carpenter, HCC Sports Information Director:
Cortez Barnes (HCC photo)
FORMER BLUE DRAGON GREAT CORTEZ BARNES DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT
By Steve Carpenter
HCC Sports Information Director
Monday, September 22, 2008
Cortez Barnes, one of the top 3-point shooters and all-around players in Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball history, died in a car accident in Texas on Sunday.
Barnes, 36, was an All-Jayhawk Conference performer who played at HCC in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
“Cortez was a tremendous player,” HCC head coach Ryan Swanson said. “He was a large part of the success the Blue Dragons had while he was here and he helped (Bruce) Pearl win a national championship at Southern Indiana.
“He was a terrific person who will be deeply missed by not only his friends and family, but the people here at Hutchinson Community College. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cortez’s family and friends.”
Barnes came to HCC before the 1990-91 season for coach Dave Farrar after a stellar prep career at Wichita Heights.
A versatile 6-foot-7 forward, Barnes became the program’s career leader in 3-point field goals, tallying 122 for his career. That mark is still third on the career chart today.
Barnes scored 994 career points at HCC, which ranks 12th on the career chart. He’s 10th in made field goals (390) and third in 3-point attempts (350).
During his freshman season in 1990-91, Barnes averaged 16.3 points per game, shooting 44 percent from the field overall and 38.8 percent from behind the 3-point arc. The 62 3-pointers are the sixth-most in single-season history and fourth most by a freshman. The 38.8 percent efficiency ranks sixth on the single-season charts and is tied for seventh on the freshman chart. His 489 points rank seventh on the freshman chart. His scoring average is tied for sixth on the freshman chart.
The Blue Dragons went 21-9 in 1991, Farrar’s final season at Hutchinson. Under new head coach Steve McClain, Barnes averaged 14.8 points and hit 31.6 percent from 3-point range. The Dragons were 27-7 and finish as Region VI runner-up to eventual national runner-up Butler County.
A teammate of Barnes on the 1991-92 team was current HCC women’s head coach John Ontjes.
“Cortez was a great teammate. He was someone who you could always count on,” Ontjes said. “He was a leader. He was a person who I really looked up to as a freshman on his team. What a tremendous talent he had. I enjoyed playing with him.”
Before coming to Hutchinson, Barnes earned all-Wichita City League first-team honors in 1989 and 1990 and was a Wichita Eagle all-state selection in 1990. Barnes ranks 17th in City League scoring with 1,158 points. His junior and senior teams at Heights finished third in Class 6A in each of those seasons.
Barnes signed with South Carolina out of Hutchinson. He was ruled academically ineligible and transferred to Tennessee. He again transferred to Southern Indiana, a Division II program coach by now-Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl.
Southern Indiana won the Division II national championship in 1995. Barnes had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the title game.
Barnes played professionally in Sweden.
Funeral Information
Family Visitation
Thursday, Sept. 25 – 6 to 7 p.m.
Jackson Mortuary – 1125 East 13th, Wichita
Funeral Services
Friday, Sept. 26 – 1 p.m.
Tabernacle Baptist Church – 1817 N. Volutsia, Wichita
Cortez Barnes Stats at HCC (1990-92)
Year Pts. Avg. FG/A FG% 3PT/A 3P% FT/A FT%
90-91 489 16.3 197-448 44.0 62-160 38.8 33-48 68.8
91-92 505 14.8 193-485 39.8 60-190 31.6 59-88 67.0
Totals 994 15.5 390-933 41.8 122-350 34.9 92-136 67.6
Career rankings
Points – 12 994 points
Made field goals – 10 390
Made 3-point goals – 3 122
3-point attempts – 3 350
Single-season rankings
Made 3-pointers – 6, 7 62 (1991), 60 (1992)
3-point attempts – 6 190 (1992)
3-point percentage – 38.8 (1991)
Freshman rankings
Points – 7 489
Scoring average – T6 16.3
Made field goals – 8 197
Field goals attempted – 5 448
Made 3-point goals – T4 62
3-point attempts – 5 160
3-point percentage – 7 38.8%