Barkley visits with Tech women's team

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Just another pregame video session for the Georgia Tech’s women’s basketball team was enlivened by the appearance of a basketball legend.

“It was like, ‘Whoa, he looks exactly like Charles Barkley,’” Tech center Sasha Goodlett said. “Then I was like, ‘Oh, God, it is.’”

The Basketball Hall of Fame member, in town for his work with the “NBA on TNT” studio show across the street from Tech’s campus, gave the Yellow Jackets a pep talk Thursday morning before their game against N.C. State at Gwinnett Arena.

Barkley stopped by as a favor to Tech coach MaChelle Joseph after they ran into each other at a restaurant last week. The two have a mutual friend in Atlanta Dream assistant coach Joe Ciampi, a former Auburn women’s coach whom both Joseph and Barkley consider a mentor.

Like Goodlett, the other Tech players were caught completely by surprise as they walked into the video room at the Zelnak Basketball Center, their eyes and mouths opening wide upon spotting Barkley.

In a roughly 15-minute talk, Barkley implored players to value their opportunity to compete as teammates and praised them for their commitment to getting their degrees.

Tech “isn’t even a good school, it’s a great school,” he said.

He excoriated the NCAA for the low graduation rates prevalent in men’s basketball. He answered questions, including one seeking Barkley’s opinion on Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James.

“That’s a question?” Barkley shot back at Tech guard Tyaunna Marshall before elaborating on the superiority of Bryant’s killer instinct over James’ pass-first style.

A staffer asked Barkley for secrets on rebounding, his forte. He said that while the fundamental of boxing out is important, it isn’t as important as just getting the ball. Barkley related how his coach at Auburn once asked him why he wasn’t getting more rebounds.

“I said, ‘Coach, this dude is telling me to box out,’” Barkley said. “He said, ‘Hey, hey, that’s why he’s an assistant coach. Go get the ball.”