Courier-Journal
Standouts Cobie Barnes and Luke Gohmann played pivotal roles in leading 19-win Floyd Central to its most successful campaign in more than 28 years this past season.
Barnes averaged 13.4 points per game as a sophomore to lead the team, and Gohmann, a junior, wasn’t far behind at 12.1. Both contributed to Floyd Central’s 15-win season in 2015-16, too, combining for 16 points per game. That, coupled with the duo’s play on the AAU circuit, has yielded a number of Division I looks for the Highlanders’ stars.
Barnes’ list of schools includes Butler, Clemson, Evansville, Indiana, Indiana State, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Xavier. The 6-foot-5 forward has yet to receive an offer, but he said Evansville and Indiana State will “offer me pretty soon.”
Barnes said he’d like to make his college choice by spring break of his senior year.
“Indiana State and Evansville have been recruiting me the hardest, then Butler is right after that,” Barnes said.
An all-area first-teamer, Barnes plans to visit Butler in late May or early June, which would mark his first visit of the year. He made trips to Indiana, Purdue and Xavier this past summer. The Floyd Central standout said Indiana’s new staff has reached out.
Playing time and academics, Barnes added, are major factors in his decision. The sophomore said he’d likely study meteorology or sports broadcasting in college.
“I look for a place where I can come in and play as much as I can, like right off the bat,” Barnes said. “Then, a good academic school.”
Currently, Barnes is playing with Indiana Elite 2019 amid the grassroots season. The team is undefeated playing on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit and at additional weekend tournaments. Barnes and Co. won the Adidas May Classic’s 16U division this past weekend in Indianapolis.
Gohmann, also a 6-foot-5 wing, nabbed his first offer on May 10 from Marian University, an NAIA school in Indianapolis. The junior has received interest from Division I schools American, Lipscomb and Navy, in addition to Division II Bellarmine and Malone, among others.
Gohmann, who’s also playing on the Adidas Gauntlet with Pocket City 2018, doesn’t have a timetable for a decision but plans to take two visits this summer after trips to Bellarmine and Lipscomb for games this past season. The Knights have made a strong push for Gohmann of late, he said.
“Bellarmine, they’ve been talking to me a lot more,” Gohmann said. “They want me to come play open gym and stuff like that. They want me to come work out with their team.”
Bellarmine is fresh off a 32-4 season, its third 30-win campaign in seven years, and a trip to the Division II Final Four. Program success, Gohmann said, will play a part in his decision.
“A program where I can fit in and play, but also a winning program,” Gohmann said. “The school is also a big part for me. I want to continue my education in an engineering program. But I really like to see winning teams.”
In addition to Barnes and Gohmann, 6-foot-7 junior forward Evan Nichols and 6-foot-4 junior wing Brendan Hobson have received small-school interest, Floyd Central coach Todd Sturgeon said.
The Highlanders, whose season ended in the sectional championship, graduate only two players off the 2016-17 team. Floyd Central is set to make its second appearance in the prestigious Hall of Fame Classic next season.