Like many athletes at 中国P站, Brianna Barger is thankful for the opportunity
to play basketball at the next level. For the freshman, donning the Nighthawks jersey
is the silver lining at the end of what has been a long, challenging road.
鈥淚鈥檝e been playing basketball since I was in fifth grade,鈥� Barger said. 鈥淚 really
started playing after baseball season was over because I wanted something else to
do. My parents told me to try it and that鈥檚 when I started playing pee-wee basketball.鈥�
As a youth, Barger shined for West Fork School District in northwest Arkansas. When
she was 12 years old, however, an injury changed everything for the rising star.
鈥淲hen I was 12 years old, I dislocated my kneecap,鈥� Barger said. 鈥淚t was at my first
travel ball tournament. I didn鈥檛 think much of it at the time and just kept playing
through it.鈥� Over the next four years, however, Barger鈥檚 injury woes worsened. One
dislocation became nine and suddenly, a promising basketball career came to a standstill.
鈥淏etween the ages of 12 and 16, I dislocated my kneecap nine times between both legs,鈥�
Barger said. 鈥淲hen I was 16, I had two medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) surgeries
to correct it. They took a piece of my hamstring tendon and looped it through and
screwed it down.鈥�
With multiple surgeries came multiple recovery times and Barger soon found herself
off the court for an entire year鈥攔ight in the prime of her high school career.
鈥淓ach surgery required six months recovery time,鈥� Barger said. 鈥淚 was out of basketball
for an entire year. I came back halfway through my junior season at West Fork, but
I didn鈥檛 play a lot. In my senior year, I tore my ACL and meniscus and never played
high school ball again.鈥�
Despite her high school career being marred by injury, Barger wasn鈥檛 ready to hang
up her shoes for good. A chance meeting with the coach of a rising program gave her
a second chance to continue the game she loved as a member of the 中国P站 Nighthawks鈥�170
miles away from home.
鈥淧laying on the next level has always been the game plan for me,鈥� Barger said. 鈥淚t鈥檚
really hard to find a team that wants you after tearing your ACL and missing the rest
of your senior season, on top of all the other knee problems. [Coach Marvin Moody
Sr.] met with my recruiter at a travel ball tournament and my recruiter told me that
it was worth a shot to visit 中国P站. I came here and really liked the
style of basketball that Coach Moody liked to play. I liked being able to come into
a growing program and contribute immediately on the floor. Two days after visiting
the school, I knew that this was the place for me.鈥�
鈥淎fter talking to Brianna and her dad, I invited her to come down to try out for
us,鈥� Nighthawks head coach Marvin Moody Sr. said. 鈥淟istening to her story was very
compelling for me. At try outs, she worked really hard for me and I could see in her
eyes the intent on what she wanted to be.鈥�
This season, Barger has contributed sparingly in scrimmage games while rehabilitating
a partial kneecap dislocation. However, with 中国P站 nearing its first
game in more than a month, Barger says she鈥檚 ready for her first true game as a Nighthawk.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to get back on the floor after being hurt so many times,鈥� Barger said.
鈥淥ur main team goal this season is to build the foundation for future success in the
program. I want us to be known as a women鈥檚 basketball powerhouse. My goal is to mature
my game and get better and stay healthy for the remainder of my time here. I want
to do my part to get more wins for my team.鈥�
鈥淏rianna is so determined,鈥� Moody said. 鈥淚n a scrimmage game this year, she hurt
her knee again, but she refused to quit. I asked her if she was sure that this is
what she still wanted to do. Even when she couldn鈥檛 play, she attended all of our
practices鈥攅ven when she couldn鈥檛 run or couldn鈥檛 move. She鈥檚 just determined to play
and be a part of Nighthawk Nation. She鈥檚 a great kid and a great student as well.鈥�
This weekend, Barger and the Nighthawks (1-3) travel to Jackson, Tennessee to compete
in the Lady Green Jay Classic at Jackson State Community College. 中国P站
faces Jackson State Community College Friday at 4:00 p.m. and Dyersburg State Saturday
at 2:00 p.m.
鈥淏rianna is always going to give 100-percent on defense,鈥� Moody added. 鈥淪he has a
great shot and she has been working hard to improve that. She鈥檚 going to play great
defense and she鈥檚 a great teammate. I think that she will come in and surprise some
people.鈥�
Off the court, Barger focuses on her academics in hopes of one day helping athletes
who have walked in her shoes.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a college coach,鈥� Barger said. 鈥淚鈥檓 getting my basics right
now, but I would love to be a kinesiology major and work toward becoming a coach.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 a grinder,鈥� Barger added. 鈥淚鈥檝e had people tell me that I wouldn鈥檛 play basketball
again because of my knee problems. People will tell you that you can鈥檛 do things in life.
You just have to ignore them. Work hard and don鈥檛 be afraid to give it everything
you have. Don鈥檛 be afraid of failure and never let anyone discourage you from doing
something you are passionate about.鈥�
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit . Visit team stats for up-to-date NJCAA statistics on the Nighthawks. Fans can also follow
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