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North Carolina State University

Two days inspire two months for N.C. State's Cat Barber

Nicole Auerbach
USA TODAY Sports
North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Anthony Barber (12) dribbles the ball against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For Cat Barber, death followed life. A day later, to be exact.

On Jan. 15, Barber became a father, welcoming his daughter, Cadence Aniyah, into the world. The next day, he received a phone call and learned one of his closest childhood friends had been killed.

Each event would have been momentous on its own, but packaged together, they hit Barber hard. He was elated by his daughter's arrival but crushed by the death of Jamar Thomas – whom Barber called his "little brother."

Two months later, it's clear that the two life-changing events that have already shaped Barber's year are also what have molded him into one of the NCAA tournament's most dynamic guards. He's always been a good basketball player, but Barber has elevated his game over these last two months, and to those closest to him, it's no surprise why.

"That's the motivation," said teammate Desmond Lee. "I think that's what he's doing – his friend being gone, him being a dad – that's all motivation."

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Thomas, 20, was shot and killed in a parking lot outside a bar in Hampton, Va., according to local news reports. Barber received the news while on the Wolfpack's trip to Florida State.

"I looked at him and I knew something was wrong," NC State assistant coach Rob Moxley said. "Coming from where he's come from, he's seen some of that. But this one – when you're young, you think you're invincible. A death of someone so close to him wakes you up a bit. You only get one chance at this. We talked about it. It took him about a week, 10 days to really get through that.

"He wasn't home. He was away. A lot of people kept calling, telling him things about what happened, this and that. He'd try to move on, then he'd hear something else. Not being there hurt. He went home for the funeral. I think that helped (give) some closure."

North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Anthony Barber (12) during practice for the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Carrier Dome.

Barber took himself out of the lineup against the Seminoles.

Lee waited a few days to give Barber some space before he spoke to him. Lee knew, first-hand, some of what his friend was experiencing. Lee, too, was a father to a baby girl. And he'd had a close friend end up in jail. Lee's message was simple but clear: You've got to grow up, and realize the things that matter most to you. Take care of your family. Stay focused. Things that are here can be gone tomorrow.

That message started to sink in for Barber. He went home to bury a friend he'd known since he was three years old, a friend who'd gone "in the wrong direction as he got older," as Barber put it.

"I wish he never went down that road. … I wish it never (happened)," Barber said. "But I can't dwell on it and be down all the time. I know I have a job to do. … I knew he'd want me to play for him.

"It was kind of a turning point for me where I just had to pick myself up."

Barber had to pick himself up for his own good. And for his daughter's. His paternal instinct had kicked in; he wanted to do his best in order to provide for her.

"It's now, 'I have a daughter. It's not just about me,' " Moxley said. "It's about a lot more. I think that helped, too."

North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Anthony Barber (12) shoots the ball past Villanova Wildcats guard Darrun Hilliard II (4) during the second half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA tournament at Consol Energy Center.

Barber became looser and happier in practice. He became more productive in games, starting with a 23-point effort against Georgia Tech on Jan. 31.

Then, he sustained it, helping the Wolfpack close the regular season by winning five of six games, and guiding them past Pitt (with 34 points) in the ACC tournament. NC State then earned a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament and knocked out No. 1 seed Villanova last weekend.

Barber's speed and scoring ability have made him nearly impossible to guard one-on-one, which opens up a plethora of opportunities for his teammates. The last time he played Louisville – NC State's opponent here in the Sweet 16 – he dominated the game by handling the Cardinals' pressure with ease.

"For us to become a good team, (he's) the guy that's got to take it to another level," Gottfried said. "The turning point was at Georgia Tech. I thought we played over there, and he had great speed up and down the floor. He made three-point shots. He played with confidence. I thought everything began to change right about that time. He's made a huge difference for us. (There's a) big-time difference in our team when he plays at a high level."

It's become a bit of a habit by now, too.

"I think it's kind of like lifting weights," Moxley said. "You see yourself getting a little bigger, you want more of it. That's what happened with him – he started having that success, and he wanted more."

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