Starting at point guard for the 1976 NAIA National Championship Team, Barnes led the Eagles to a 39-2 mark that season, recording 398 assists and 10.8 assists per game, both of which are CSU records. During the school's only championship season, Barnes dished out 17 assists against Rutgers-Camden on November 29, 1975, which is also a school-record. Named Mr. Eagle following the season, Barnes was also a member of Groove Phi Groove, a social fellowship founded in Baltimore during the 1960s as an alternative to mainstream historically black fraternities. Following graduation, Barnes was the Founder of Real Harlem Basketball Players and has had roles in numerous documentaries highlighting the history of basketball in HBCU's, New York City and Rucker Park.