WXXV Student Athlete of the Week: Harrison Central’s Aujaylen Barron
This week’s WXXV Student-Athlete of the Week has a story quite similar to the basketball great, Michael Jordan, and it’s not just because you can always find him with a basketball in hand. Introducing you to Harrison Central’s talented point guard, Aujaylen Barron.
Every chance Harrison Central’s Aujaylen Barron gets to step foot on the hardwood, he takes it with gratefulness, pride, and humility.
Barron has always had a love for the game of basketball, but during his middle school years he hit a roadblock when his name wasn’t listed on the Red Rebel roster.
Four years later, and a whole lot of hard work, Barron is now the heartbeat of their varsity program.
“It means a lot. I overcame it because I was kind of discouraged when I didn’t make the team and didn’t really want to play basketball anymore but I kept fighting.” said Barron. “I was really just consistently working and putting in work in the gym, outside the gym, putting up shots.”
Instead of being embarrassed by his journey on the bumpy road, he now embraces it and uses it as motivation, along with encouragement from his family.
“What motivates me is the thought of not being good enough and I’ll always want to be better because there’s always people out here working and my mom motivates me to do better at life, period,” said Barron.
Currently leading the Red Rebels in total points, assists, and points for game, Barron now calls the shots as Harrison Central’s starting point guard.
“Being able to really control the pace of the game like I can make the game faster or make the game slower, and everything really just moves off me as far as the ball and I’m the on ball defender so I have to set the tone for everything,” said Barron.
After looking back on his high school career, Barron says he owes a lot of his growth and confidence to Harrison Central.
“The school has done a lot for me,” Barron said. “It’s given me a lot of confidence. There have been a lot of hard times, but we pulled it together and got through the storm. This school has definitely taught me how to get over adversity.”
The red and black won’t be the only basketball threads Barron gets to put on. He currently has an offer to play at the next level at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
“It makes me feel good that I get another two years at it or four to continue playing the game of basketball,” said Barron.
Although he’s excited for the future, Barron knows the job isn’t finished yet here at Harrison Central.
“It feels sad, but it’ll be a new start. After this it’ll be a new start for me with a new school and all that and I definitely want to get a state championship before I leave,” said Barron.
Their road to state will continue Friday night as they play the Gulfport Admirals.
