Local legend Norton Barnhill unleashes
Local basketball legend
Norton Barnhill is easily one of
the greatest basketball players to
come from Winston-Salem. It's
easy to immediately name some
of the younger guys to play in
the city when discussing some
of the best.
But it's hard to forget the
serious skills that Barnhill
played with in the early 70s.
He's got to be one of the few
athletes to letter in basketball at
three different high schools
(Anderson, Atkins and West
Forsyth). In high school
Barnhill averaged an amazing
33 points per game. He made all
county, all-city, all-toumament
<ind Frank Spencer award run
ner-up while in high school. He
was also chosen as one of Street
and Smith's Top 50 Blue Chip
Players in the country coming
out of high school.
He then went on to star at
Washington State University,
before a brief stint in the
National Basketball
Association. I enjoy talking with
Barnhill because he's so intelli
gent. I like intelligent people,
especially former and present
athletes. He and I talked about a
number of things during a very
fun interview this week.
We talked about some of
everything too. It's funny how
this all started. I called Barnhill
up to get his thoughts on some
thing and ended up wanting to
turn my recorder on. So, I asked
him to do the interview with me.
And, this is some of what we
came up with on Tuesday
evening.
Anthony: How are you
doing today, Norton?
Norton: I'm doing well.
I'm thankful to be alive,
Anthony: I hear you.
(Smiles.) What did you think
about that championship game
on Monday night?
Norton: I think Kansas
was, by far, the best team in the
tournament. I picked Kansas to
win. They have a complete
team. ?
Anthony: Do you think the
Memphis coach should 've
called a timeout down the
stretch? I mean, his guys looked
lost before Kansas hit that three
to tie it up.
Norton: (Laughs.) I don't
like criticizing my colleague,
with me being a coach. But I
would 've called a timeout.
Some coaches let their players
play some situations out. But the
coach wins the game during the
last two minutes. There's certain
things a coach sees that a player
doesn't during that time. That's
why you have a timeout.
Anthony: No doubt. Let me
get your thoughts on the NBA
MVP race. Do you believe they
will give the MVP to Chris Paul
this year?
Norton: Well, he would get
my vote. He's gotten that team
turned around. He's leading the
league in assist. How was New
Orleans doing before he got
there?
Anthony: I don't think
many people cared how they
were doing before CP3.
Norton: Right. That's what
I look at. I felt like Carmelo
should've gotten Rookie of the
Year over LeBron James. I like
the way Carmelo plays. He
brings energy. He can shoot. He
can pass. He can run. He's defi
nitely the future of the NBA.
I've always liked his all-around
game.
Anthony: OK. I released
the latest class of Winston
Salem high school hall of
famers two weeks ago in an
exclusive story. Some people
have expressed their feelings on
different people getting in
before others. You're a hall of
famer. What are your thoughts
on the process?
Norton: If you excelled in
high school, have been a role
model and haven't done any
thing detrimental to your com
munity then you should, tyave a
chance to be voted in. I'm not a
part of the committee. But you
have to read the criteria and see
exactly what it says.
Anthony:
That's the problem. So many
people don't realize the criteria,
or selection process. You have to
fill out the application for con
sideration before anything can
happen.
Norton: Right. When I first
got back from Argentina, Walter
Marshall wanted me to get in the
hall of fame. I wasn't really up
on it. He brought the application
by my house. I never filled it
out. You must fill it out. I don't
care who you are.
Anthfrny: Would you admit
that the coaching style of today
is a lot easier than it used to be?
Coaches have to be so nice
nowadays. It's my way or the
highway when I was in school.
Norton: Well, discipline is
everything. A player can't play
for me if he thinks he bigger
than the team. I remember a les
son I learned back in the ninth
grade. I was dunking two balls. I
was reaching my hand over the
square, so I thought I had
arrived. Coach Williard Johnson
was our ninth grade coach. Me
and a friend of mine went to the
bakery to get some buns.
Somebody told coach. (Laughs.)
He told us that we owe him
20 or 30 laps. 1 told him that I
wasn't running any laps. He told
me I wouldn't play. I told him
that he needed me. We were
undefeated, going for 10 games
in a row. That was on a Monday.
The game was on a Friday. 1
practiced all week, dressed on
Friday and he didn't let me play.
He taught me that no one is
above the team.
Anthony: OK. I need to ask
you for a Top 3 of Winston play
ers of all time. Name three of the
baddest bailers to come from
Winston.
Norton: Hmm. Let me see.
Herm Gilliam, Punch Scales. I
can't say myself. I would have
to say Edward Louis. I think his
name was Edward Louis
Hadom. Everybody will tell you
he was phenomenal. He -was
unreal.
Anthony: (Smiles.) Who
put up better numbers than
Norton Bamhill, though?
Norton: I mean, you don't
pat yourself on the back. You let
your peers do that. It's what the
people say about you. If they
think I was in the Top 5 or what
ever then praise God. I don't
know who else averaged 33
points per game in high school.
If you want to look at it that
way. I had a complete game.
Anthony: No doubt. Why
aren't you a high school coach
right now?
Norton: Maybe because I
don't tolerate mess. What I say
goes. Parents aren't allowed in
my practice. I don't know. I real
ly never applied for a high
school job. You shouldn't have
to apply for some things. You
know a man who's from this
town. I live here, coached here.
Photo courtesy of Norton Barnhill
Here , Norton Barnhill skies
over a Washington University
player during his college
days at WSU.
and played here. I've played on
every level of basketball. You
should come and offer me a job.
Barnhill
(Both laugh.) I really think
some of the guys that have sons
should ask me to help their kids
get better.
Anthony: Do you want to
be a personal basketball trainer?
Norton: I wouldn't mind
having a school. Or, I'd love to
have a gym where I can help
kids refine their skills.
Anthony: Do you plan on
playing in the 35-and-up tourna
ment that you and Jug are put
ting on next month?
Norton: (Laughs.) No, no,
no. Norton Barnhill doesn't run
up and down the court anymore.
I'm not running up and down
that court. Norton Barnhill plays
one-on-one. (Both laugh.) I'm
takmg all comers, one-on-one. I
-"*1^.' anyone. The first one to
Anthony: I hear that. Uh,
what are you usually doing dur
ing the day? What are some of
your hobbies?
Norton: I don't really have
any hobbies. I'm always medi
tating on the all mighty God. I
gave my life to God in 1988. I
am always reading His word.
I'm doing my art
(www.nortonbarnhill.com). I'm
waiting on an awesome pur
chase from my university. They
are rating my top three paintings
they are going to put in the
newly remodeled student union.
I'm also waiting on a check
from Miamj. I love painting. I'm
supposed to be doing a show
downtown, during the later part
of May and early part of June
Myself and Davida Galloway.
We're going to call it the Color
Collision. She's a wonderful
artist. We always collaborate.
Anthony: What's your
favorite thing to eat nowadays?
Norton: Gotta be my
salmon. My wings. And, my
three lettuce salad. Bake potato
and some apple juice. I kind of
like my cooking right now.
Anthony: I hear that.
(Laughs.) Who's going to win
the NBA coach of the year
award?
Norton: Byron Scott.
Antnony: Who's going to
win the NBA Finals? "
Norton: Ooh, that's a toss
UP I' s not the National
Basketball Association any
more. It's the NBA entertain
ment league. They may have
someone they want to be the
champion this year. I don't
know. (Both laugh.) I Rke
Boston, Detroit, Orlando and
L.A., San Antonio, Utah Jazz or
New Orleans. It's a toss up.
They need to revamp the NBA a
little bit.
Anthony: Yeah. They
should put New Orleans in the
East.
Norton: Definitely. You
have six or eight teams on the
West with basically the same
record. Go on the East and see
three or four teams with winning
records. You hate to see Golden
State or Denver not in the play
offs. Both of those teams are
playing well. They're exciting.
They definitely need to revamp
this whole thing.
Anthony: Who's going to
win the presidential election?
Norton: Ooh. My vote was
going to be Gulliani. But he lost
out.
Anthony: Why aren't you
with Barrack Obama?
Norton: Because he's
black?
Anthony: No, just in gener
al.
Norton: I mean, I kind of
look at like this: Gulliani ran the
state of New York as mayor. He
was the attorney general I like
his stance on terrorism. I know a
lot of people don't like him, but
that was my vote I really don't
know who's gonna win. We'll
leave all of that in God's hands.
Anthony: What is your
most memorable moment?
Norton: I actually have
two The best basketball game
I've ever seen was Atkins
against Parkland my junior year.
We were down 23 points at
halftime. Jessie Williams and
Tyrone Baldwin put on a show. I
think Jessie hit nine in a row
after Tyrone scored eight in a
row. We came back to beat
Parkland. That was the best
game I've ever seen in my life.
We went on to lose to South
Mecklenburg in the state finals.
The other moment was when I
played the University of Oregon
when they were c?nked 10th in
the nation . They had just embar
rassed UCLA. Then, they came
in our gym. We were ranked
18th, and we crushed them.
Anthony: Oh, OK. Let's
finish with free association.
Norton: OK.
Anthony: Norton Bamhill.
Norton: Uh, a lover of God.
Anthony: Avery Johnson
(Dallas Maverick head coach).
Norton: How in the world
did he not get drafted coming
out of college?
Anthony: "Black Magic."
Norton: Awesome t
Excellent. People need to know
what the black man has been
through in this country.
Anthony: Winston-Salem.
Norton: One of the best
towns for basketball talent in the
country.
Anthony: West Forsyth.
Norton: Where I finished
my last year of high school.
Anthony: Josh Howard.
Norton: Great player.
Could be an awesome player.
He needs to take my class dur
ing the summer.
Anthony: (Smiles.) One
more for you. What would be a
dream coaching job for you
right now?
Norton: Atkins High on a
high school level. And,
Washington State University.
Anthony: That "sounds
good. I'll get with you latdr on.
Norton: OK, Anthbny. I
appreciate you.
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