16 | NPAR
Barber nominated for Allstate NABC Good Works Team
Written by : Megan Hart NPAR Correspondent
As a five-year-old , Malek Barber was not happy when his mother , Tonia Kinsey , signed him up to play basketball . community in a greater way ,” Barber explained . “ That ’ s really what I enjoy using sports to do .”
Barber , a sophomore , spends his free time working with students from Palm Beach-area elementary schools on their reading and math . He also represents his Sailfish teammates as a member of the NCAA Division II Student Athlete Advisory Committee . Last summer , Barber and his teammates traveled to Costa Rica where they ran basketball clinics for kids . Though Barber was there to teach basketball , he admits that the local children schooled him in soccer . children dates back to his time at North Port and stems from his experience as an older brother to his younger siblings . While in high school , Barber volunteered with kids from Lamarque Elementary and played sports with them after school .
“ Malek has always been a perfect child ,” Kinsey said . “ As a parent , you couldn ’ t ask for more .”
When Barber is not busy working toward his business management degree or volunteering with kids , he is tearing it up on the court . The Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Sun Newspapers both named Barber “ Player of the Year ” during his senior season at North Port . He also holds the school ’ s all-time rebound record .
“ He cried and cried ,” Kinsey remembers .
Fourteen years later , things have changed . Barber is now a starter on Palm Beach Atlantic University ’ s basketball team . More importantly , the North Port High School graduate is using the sport to help children in his community .
Barber ’ s work , both on and off the court , was recently recognized when he was nominated for the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team .
“ Athletics gives me the opportunity to affect the
“ Malek has always been a perfect child ,” Kinsey said . “ As a parent , you couldn ’ t ask for more .”
While in Costa Rica , Barber and his fellow players distributed basketballs and shoes to kids . When they ran out , Barber and some of his teammates gave away their own jackets so that every child received an item .
“ It was a life-changing experience ,” Barber said .
Barber ’ s passion for helping
As a freshman at Palm Beach Atlantic , Barber finished third on the team in scoring , averaging 10.2 points per game . This season , the Sailfish are off to a strong 5-3 start . Though the team is young ( four of its five starters are underclassman ), Barber is optimistic about the team ’ s chances of earning its first berth in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament .