October 25, 2014
In Memoriam: Friar legend Marvin Barnes ’74
The death of Marvin Barnes ’74 left former teammates and fans of Providence College basketball recalling an incomparably talented player who brought the Friars all the way to their first NCAA Final Four berth.
Mr. Barnes died on Sept. 8 in Providence.
A native of South Providence, Mr. Barnes teamed with Ernie DiGregorio ’73, a native of North Providence, and Kevin Stacom ’74 to lead the Friars to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in 1973. It was the same season the Providence Civic Center, now the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, opened and “the state was abuzz at every single game,” DiGregorio remembered.
“It was standing-room-only. We put a show on. It was fun.”
A 6-foot-9-inch, 230-lb. center, Mr. Barnes was a free spirit with a big heart, but he also was “an absolutely brilliant basketball player, and very smart,” said DiGregorio.
“He should be remembered as probably the greatest shot blocker and rebounder in the history of New England basketball, and as a tremendous teammate who was so unselfish that he brought his team to the Final Four,” added DiGregorio.
In 1974, Mr. Barnes was the second overall pick in the NBA Draft behind UCLA’s Bill Walton but chose to play for the Spirits of St. Louis in the American Basketball Association. In the 1975 playoffs, he faced the New York Nets, led by “Dr. J,” Julius Erving.
Sportscaster Bob Costas, who began his career as a Spirits announcer, said in an ESPN documentary, “The truth is that there were many nights, even when Dr. J was in the game, when the best player on the floor was Marvin Barnes.”
Mr. Barnes also played four seasons in the NBA, including one for the Boston Celtics.
Later, he founded and was president of The Rebound Foundation, a nonprofit established to warn young people about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
PC retired his jersey in 2008. In 2011, Mr. Barnes joined his former teammates as a pallbearer at the funeral of their legendary coach, Dave Gavitt ’01Hon.
Mr. Barnes and his Friar teammates remained lifelong friends. A PC blanket covered him at his funeral on Sept. 17 in Trinity United Methodist Church, Providence.
“Marvin’s basketball career had a tremendous impact on the tradition of Friar basketball,” said men’s basketball Head Coach Ed Cooley. “I grew up in Providence and always knew what a special player Marvin Barnes was at Providence College.”
Stacom, who played in the NBA for six seasons, remembered Mr. Barnes for “his intensity level and his competitiveness.”
“Part of his greatness as a player was the heart and the drive that he had,” said Stacom. “The hallmark of his game was being a great rebounder and defender. The offense came later. He had a great skill for it, a knack for it, and a big, big heart. That’s work, to go in and bang around and battle every play. He was just a presence on and off the court.”
Stacom said he considers himself lucky to have played with charismatic players like Mr. Barnes and DiGregorio.
“Having two talents like that come out of Rhode Island at the same time — I don’t know if that’s ever going to happen again,” said Stacom.
Mr. Barnes is survived by his wife, Donna; his children, Tifani Barnes, Marvin V. Johnson, Elijah (Fulp) Barnes, and Mel (Johnson) Barnes; and two sisters, Alfreda L. Barnes-Robinson and Jacqueline Fagnant.
MARVIN THE GREAT
Marvin Barnes ’74 was the most talented frontcourt player in Providence College’s storied basketball history. As passionate and charismatic on the court as off, he established program records that stand today — in just three varsity seasons.
A member of the Providence College Athletics Hall of Fame, Mr. Barnes is one of just 11 men’s Friar players or coaches to be honored in the Providence College Friar Legends Forever Tradition and have his jersey retired. The program’s highest honor, it is granted to those who made a significant impact on PC basketball and received national recognition during his Friar career.
Among Mr. Barnes’ milestones, he:
- was a two-time All-American, earning First-Team acclaim in 1974 and Third-Team honors in 1973;
- was the 1974 NCAA National Rebounding Champion, averaging 18.7 rebounds per game;
- was the 1974 Eastern Player of the Year;
- played on the greatest team in College history, the 1972-73 squad that went 27-4, won the NCAA Eastern Regional Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the first time;
- holds the PC single-game, seasonal, and career records for rebounds — 34, 597, and 1,592 —and blocked shots — 12, 159, and 363;
- ranks fifth in career scoring with 1,839 points; and
- was the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, was Rookie of the Year in the ABA, and played two seasons in the ABA and four seasons in the NBA
