Barea stars in Under-21 World Championships
Barea scored at least 10 points in each of Puerto Rico’s eight games in the
tournament. His best performances were in two meetings with the United States in
which he led all scorers. Barea recorded 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 14 assists
against the Americans on Aug. 7, then in a rematch in the semi-final round of the
tournament, posted 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Barea was the star of the team’s final game as well, contributing 18 points, 8
rebounds, and 9 assists in an 86-77 win over Slovenia that gave Puerto Rico a
seventh-place finish in the tournament.
Barea will return to Northeastern for his senior season, the Huskies’ first in the
Colonial Athletic Association. Northeastern finished 21-10 last year and played in
the National Invitation Tournament for the first time.
Barea led the Huskies in scoring (22.2 ppg), assists (7.3 apg) and steals (1.8 spg)
last season, earning first team All-America East honors for the second year in a row.
With his assist average ranking fifth in the country and his points per game putting
him eighth in the NCAA, Barea was the first player since Long Island University's
Charles Jones in 1997-98 to appear in the top 10 in both categories.
He sits fourth on the school's all-time scoring list (1,680 points) and ranks third in
assists (477).
Aug. 17, 2005
Boston, MANortheastern point guard Jose Juan Barea led the Puerto Rican team in scoring,
averaging 17.6 points per game at the 2005 Under-21 World Championships this
month in Argentina. Barea ranked fourth in the tournament in scoring and led all
players in assists, averaging 7.3 per game.
