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Long is Barrow's go-to guy

December 29th 8:15 pm | Van Williams Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

A starting guard for the Barrow High School boys basketball team since his sophomore season, senior standout Colin Long is just about as experienced as they come in Alaska Class 3A.

He was a role player in the past, riding shotgun on older teams.

Now it's his team.

"He's the best player we got," said Barrow coach Jeremy Arnhart. "I challenged him to be the best player in the state, the best point guard in 3A. He takes that challenge and he likes that. He wants to be the best."

Long is averaging 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists so far this year.

The speedy 5-foot-9 playmaker runs the offense, scores, rebounds and hustles on defense. More importantly, he's a hard-working, do-as-I-do leader that keeps teammates in check.

He plays as hard in practice as he does in games, and expects others around him to do the same.

"He's always had that edge about him," Arnhart said. "He's a competitor. He'll go out and he'll believe that he is one of the better players out there and he'll compete at a high level with anybody.

"He's fun to watch. He's tenacious and he gets after people. What I like about him is how he's falling into his leadership role. I want him to expect the most out of his teammates."

Long said it's something he is still getting used to.

"You gotta be more mean," he said with a laugh.

In the past, Long played with mostly older guys and when he made a mistake they would pull him aside rather than yell at him on the court.

"They were more in my ear," he said.

Long tries to be the same way but admits to having a fiery, competitive nature.

"I try to hold my composure," he said.

"He's getting better at that," Arnhart said. "I let him get after them because I'm getting after them, too, but they gotta see it on both ends. If the coach is always getting on you, you feel like it's nagging. But if you have your leader, your best player, expecting the best every single day, to me that's much better than me getting after them because they'll understand it better."

Take weight lifting.

Long has bulked up a little bit and the result is paying dividends on the court.

"At his size, even with his quickness and athleticism, you gotta be strong if you want to compete at that high level," Arnhart said. "That's one thing that will really help his game."

Long is a point guard by position but a shooter by nature.

"If I don't see anyone open I will push the middle of the court and look for an open lane or an open teammate," he said. "I trust my teammates."

The 2-0 Barrow Whalers return to the court this week in Anchorage at the annual ACS Invitational over the New Year's holiday.

 

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