LOS ANGELES – The Bruins have landed Texas A&M transfer Janiah Barker, adding key depth ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Barker was the second-leading rebounder for the Aggies during her sophomore season, finishing the year with 7.6 rebounds per game. The Marietta, Georgia, native was the only freshman in the SEC to lead her team in points per game (12.7) during her first collegiate campaign; she scored 12.2 points per game as a sophomore.
The rising junior reunites with Lauren Betts, who was her teammate with USA Basketball at the 2023 AmeriCup. Barker, Betts and Charisma Osborne earned a silver medal at the summer competition in Mexico.
Coach’s Corner
“I think when you look at the way the game is going, you’re talking about these versatile swing players that can impact the game on so many different levels. Janiah Barker is that kind of player,” said the Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. “She can play all over the floor; she’s an immediately impactful player on defense, she can keep guards in front of her, she’s strong enough to battle in the post, and offensively she’s a mismatch nightmare.
“I’m really excited about not only her abilities on the court, but the reason she chose the Bruins and the young woman she wants to become. She wants to contribute on the court and to the community around her.”
Prior to UCLA…
2023-24 (sophomore at Texas A&M)
The Marietta, Georgia, native was the youngest player and only sophomore to make the SEC Preseason First Team ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Barker made 27 starts in 30 appearances during her second collegiate season. Her 365 points scored and grabbed 227 boards as a sophomore, both marking the second-most in those statistical categories for A&M. She recorded eight double-doubles during her most recent campaign with the Aggies, averaging 12.2 points and 7.6 boards in 30 games played as a sophomore. Barker was named to the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll, and she was on the 2023 Katrina McClain Award Watchlist.
2022-23 (freshman at Texas A&M)
Named SEC Freshman of the Week twice and was tabbed as the USBWA National Freshman of the Week after an impressive performance against Georgia on Jan. 22 … Was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team … Saw the court 19 times and started in seven … Led the Aggies with a team-high 12.7 points per game and was the lone freshman in the SEC to pace her team in scoring… Was second best on the team in rebounds per game (5.9) … Registered two double-doubles as she put up 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds against Rice (Nov. 27), being the first freshman to get a double-double for the program since 2015, and collecting 22 points and 10 rebounds against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinal (March 3) … Put up a career-high 24 points against Georgia on Jan. 22, shooting 10-of-11 (90.9%) from the field in just 20 minutes of action after missing the previous 10 games due to injury.
High School
Tabbed as the No. 3 recruit in the country by espnW HoopGurlz … Highest rated recruit to sign with Texas A&M … Was a WBCA, McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American … Averaged 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American Games, leading both teams to victory … Led Montverde Academy (Tampa, Florida) to its first-ever GEICO High School National Championship in 2022 … Scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in the national championship game … Averaged 17.6 points and 8.9 rebounds during her senior campaign, while shooting 50% from the field and 35% from deep … On the international stage, she won gold medals with the U16 National Team and the 2021 3×3 U18 World Cup squad … Participated in the 2018 U17 World Cup Team Trials.
Barker was the second-leading rebounder for the Aggies during her sophomore season, finishing the year with 7.6 rebounds per game. The Marietta, Georgia, native was the only freshman in the SEC to lead her team in points per game (12.7) during her first collegiate campaign; she scored 12.2 points per game as a sophomore.
The rising junior reunites with Lauren Betts, who was her teammate with USA Basketball at the 2023 AmeriCup. Barker, Betts and Charisma Osborne earned a silver medal at the summer competition in Mexico.
Coach’s Corner
“I think when you look at the way the game is going, you’re talking about these versatile swing players that can impact the game on so many different levels. Janiah Barker is that kind of player,” said the Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. “She can play all over the floor; she’s an immediately impactful player on defense, she can keep guards in front of her, she’s strong enough to battle in the post, and offensively she’s a mismatch nightmare.
“I’m really excited about not only her abilities on the court, but the reason she chose the Bruins and the young woman she wants to become. She wants to contribute on the court and to the community around her.”
Prior to UCLA…
2023-24 (sophomore at Texas A&M)
The Marietta, Georgia, native was the youngest player and only sophomore to make the SEC Preseason First Team ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Barker made 27 starts in 30 appearances during her second collegiate season. Her 365 points scored and grabbed 227 boards as a sophomore, both marking the second-most in those statistical categories for A&M. She recorded eight double-doubles during her most recent campaign with the Aggies, averaging 12.2 points and 7.6 boards in 30 games played as a sophomore. Barker was named to the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll, and she was on the 2023 Katrina McClain Award Watchlist.
2022-23 (freshman at Texas A&M)
Named SEC Freshman of the Week twice and was tabbed as the USBWA National Freshman of the Week after an impressive performance against Georgia on Jan. 22 … Was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team … Saw the court 19 times and started in seven … Led the Aggies with a team-high 12.7 points per game and was the lone freshman in the SEC to pace her team in scoring… Was second best on the team in rebounds per game (5.9) … Registered two double-doubles as she put up 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds against Rice (Nov. 27), being the first freshman to get a double-double for the program since 2015, and collecting 22 points and 10 rebounds against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinal (March 3) … Put up a career-high 24 points against Georgia on Jan. 22, shooting 10-of-11 (90.9%) from the field in just 20 minutes of action after missing the previous 10 games due to injury.
High School
Tabbed as the No. 3 recruit in the country by espnW HoopGurlz … Highest rated recruit to sign with Texas A&M … Was a WBCA, McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American … Averaged 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American Games, leading both teams to victory … Led Montverde Academy (Tampa, Florida) to its first-ever GEICO High School National Championship in 2022 … Scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in the national championship game … Averaged 17.6 points and 8.9 rebounds during her senior campaign, while shooting 50% from the field and 35% from deep … On the international stage, she won gold medals with the U16 National Team and the 2021 3×3 U18 World Cup squad … Participated in the 2018 U17 World Cup Team Trials.