Tyanna Barlow’s journey from small-town high school basketball star in Leggett, Texas to becoming a key component on the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners will continue to yet another level, as the sophomore recently signed to play her final two years of collegiate basketball with Division III member Howard Payne University in Brownwood.
The versatile Barlow did a little of everything for AC head coach Byron Coleman, finishing the 2016-2017 campaign having averaged 8.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.4 assists per game. Barlow also shot nearly 72 percent from the free-throw line.
However, it was her play down the stretch that elevated her numbers considerably. With the team’s leading scorer sidelined with a season-ending injury, Barlow picked up the slack, scoring in double figures in six consecutive conference games.
Her overall tenacity was more than enough to gain the attention of the HPU staff, and Barlow said once she got to see both the program and the facilities, she knew she’d found her next destination.
“Howard Payne has a great program, and I absolutely loved the gym,” Barlow said. “The head coach (Meia Daniels-Netter) went 33-0 as a player, and I thought that was amazing. I feel like I could be a part of that and maybe help her make something happen like that again.”
Barlow said coming from a small-school program meant she would need the right guidance if she hoped to continue both athletically and academically. She said she got the guidance from both coaches and instructors at Angelina College.
“Really, what I got most from the coach is the knowledge of the game,” Barlow said. “Coach Coleman is an excellent coach, and he helped me with getting smarter with the game. He taught me how to know when to attack or when to kick out. I feel like I’ll be taking that with me as well.
“Being here at AC helped me build a lot of character. Mrs. (Diana) Throckmorton is such a great instructor. She made it easy for me to learn and she made me want to keep learning, and that helped with my other classes.”
Barlow said she feels she’ll have an advantage over some of the younger Yellow Jacket players, adding that the two years of junior-college basketball experience helped her mature at a faster rate.
“I feel I can be a person other HPU players can lean on,” Barlow said. “They can ask me how I do certain things, and I can guide them through it. Playing at the JUCO level means you grow up fast, and I know that will give me an advantage at the next level.”
As for her role with the Yellow Jackets, Barlow admitted her versatility will offer plenty more options.
“I feel I’ll play multiple positions, but I really don’t care. I just want to be on the floor.”
Barlow’s mother is Terri Barlow.
