Hannah Barber commits to Alabama

Standout Homewood High School point guard Hannah Barber has committed to the University of Alabama, the junior announced via Twitter on Monday night.

“I feel like we can make something really special at Alabama,” Barber said. “I just feel like there I’ll be able to compete, go to NCAA Tournaments and SEC Tournaments, things like that.”

Barber is part of a core at Homewood that has enjoyed a plethora of success over the last two years. That group won a state championship in 2015 and reached the final once again in 2016.

She averaged 13 points, 5 assists and 2.5 steals per game during her sophomore campaign. Entering her junior season, Barber has already amassed 878 career points, as she played on the varsity team as an 8th-grader.

“You always hope to see them go on and keep playing,” Homewood head coach Kevin Tubbs said, who takes over for JoVanka Ward and is also the athletic director. “Hannah’s just amazing because she’s worked so hard. It’s pretty exciting that before your junior year, you know where you’re going.”

He continued, “She works harder than probably any kid I’ve ever seen.” Tubbs also lauded her court vision and unselfishness as traits the gifted point guard possesses.

Kristy Curry is entering her fourth year at Alabama, and Barber is encouraged by what she’s seen in the growth of the program in just a few years. She witnessed the Crimson Tide’s win over Tennessee last year, the first time in program history that Alabama defeated the Lady Volunteers in Tuscaloosa.

Barber chose Alabama over the likes of Dayton, Auburn and UAB.

“Alabama was really the one where I felt like I could fit in,” she said. “It was just the best fit for me.”

Barber, Tori Webb, Ajah Wayne and Shelby Hardy are the four captains of the Lady Patriots. Hardy is one of just two seniors on a team that has no reason to expect anything less than great success once again.

“This year, we know how hard we have to work. That’s all everybody wants to see. We’re not worried about the other stuff or things that aren’t important,” Barber said.