Wednesday was one of the biggest days in the young life of Mobile (Ala.) McGill-Toolen Catholic's Barry Dunning Jr.
Dunning (6-6, 205) signed his national letter of intent then later scored 31 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in his team’s 78-52 season-opening win over Mobile Faith in the McGill-Toolen Remax of Orange Beach Tip-Off Classic.
“It’s an exciting day, a happy day for my family and I,” Dunning said at his signing ceremony. “All the hard work, the sacrifices my parents have made for me, everything is paying off. It makes me want to work even harder to accomplish my goals.
“It’s the start of something beautiful. I am aiming for the state title in high school this year, and getting to go to a great place like Arkansas, it’s a great day and a lovely day.”
Last season’s Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year, Dunning is coming off a junior year in which he averaged 21.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
Dunning is McGill-Toolen’s 15th college signee in as many years under head coach Phil Murphy. He is the program's third Division I signee in a span of 10 years.
“It was a big day all around for him,” Murphy said. “The biggest change for him in the offseason has been how he got in the weight room, put on some natural weight and is now 25 pounds heavier than he was last year.
“In our preseason practices, you could see the difference that was going to make. He is poised to be a very dominant player in his senior year.”
Dunning chose Arkansas over finalists Memphis, Ole Miss and hometown South Alabama, as well as offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Georgia Tech.
He committed to Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman on July 5 after taking his official visit to Fayetteville on June 1-3.
“There was never a dull moment,” Dunning said of his official visit to Arkansas. “The coaching staff was great. There was hospitality in the state. I got along with everyone, and then going to practice and seeing how their system worked, I feel like I can fit in Coach Musselman’s system. I feel like they will maximize my potential on and off the court.
"I can see myself being there for four years and I just love Arkansas. It just hooked me when I took my visit there.”
Dunning is hoping to lead his team on a state championship run this season.
“My goal is to just be a leader, aiming for a state title and making me and my team better each and every day,” Dunning told Ben Thomas of the Alabama Media Group. “That’s the main goal and if we do that then we will go far and win the state title.”
Dunning and senior point guard Myles Murphy, the coach’s son, head up the talent on McGill-Toolen’s roster.
“The thing with our team is there are probably two guys that people are going to mark on their scouting report,” Murphy said. “But we are 11 deep and the other nine of those guys are very capable of making plays and doing their part. That’s what makes this team scary.”
Dunning remembered back to his freshman season.
“Seems like yesterday I was just a freshman coming off the bench and being a sixth man,” Dunning said. “It’s been a great program. It’s crazy, but God had his plan and I’m enjoying the day.”
Dunning’s banner for receiving Gatorade player of the year is hanging in the rafters at his school's gym.
“I’m blessed and I am grateful to have that,” Dunning said. “I look at it every day as motivation. I could not do it without my family and my teammates and the coaching staff. It just adds a little fuel to the fire for this season.”