2018 Hawaii 3-Star QB Stephen Barber Updates West Coast College Camp Circuit

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

If potential and upside had a recruiting ranking onto itself, Stephen Barber Jr. would be a consensus five-star recruit. At 6-4, 220 pounds, the emerging leader of Punahou High School (Honolulu) has it all – size, arm, and mobility in and out of the pocket. The one thing he does not have a ton of yet is national recruiting exposure, but all of that is about to change with a big college football summer camp circuit already underway.

The Buff n‘ Blue posted a 7-3 record during the 2016 season with Barber helping guide his squad to an end of the season No. 3 state ranking (MaxPreps). Sole control of the offensive attack will be in Barber’s very capable hands throughout his senior season giving college programs extra opportunities to see his Division-I caliber play in action while still at the high school level. Offers have been dropped by Hawaii and Navy with squads like Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, Oregon State, Army, and Arizona all showing various levels of interest.

Barber has already showed off his gun for a right arm at an Azusa Pacific satellite camp conducted in part with Prime Time Polynesian (The Kumite) with Stanford, Boise State, Utah State, and Oregon State in attendance and hit up a San Diego State camp the following day so far in June. The test continues to grow with a gauntlet of camps held by Arizona, Cal, Arizona State, Oregon State, San Jose State, Colorado, Oregon, UCLA, and USC.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down for a one-on-one interview with one of Hawaii’s best kept secrets in the 2018 class, if not one of the best kept quarterback secrets in the nation, receiving an overview on his first two college camps with a rundown of his schedule that will keep him on the mainland through the 25th of June.

Interview

Stephen, how did your camp at Azusa Pacific with Stanford, Boise State, Utah State, and Oregon State in attendance go for you?

“I felt like it was a really good camp. There were a lot of coaches there. That helped. It helped with exposure too.”

What were some of the areas of your game you got to showcase during that camp?

“I think what I did best was show what I can do during the 7v7 competition. I think I only had one incompletion. There were a couple of drills I was not familiar with, like a quick release drill, that at first I was not getting it but then the coaches helped me and I did well. That really helped me have a shorter windup.”

Did you get any feedback from the coaches at the camp?

“I talked with Azusa Pacific’s offensive coordinator, Coach (Rudy) Carlton (also quarterback coach) a little bit. They want me to keep in touch. Coach Carlton said he liked me. Coach (Tavita) Pritchard (quarterbacks coach), from Stanford, was helping me and giving me good feedback. Oregon State’s quarterback coach, Coach (Kevin) McGiven, was doing the same thing for me. Coach McGiven said that I have good eyes, especially during the 7v7 competition. He said he likes how I influence the defense with my eyes.”

How did the San Diego State camp go for you?

“That was a really cool camp. The weather at the time reminded me of back home. It was a really good camp. It was a perfect time length. Everything I wanted to do for the coaches there we did.”

What were some of the things you did well at that camp?

“I did really well on the routes on air. We did not have too much time during the one-on-ones. I was hitting the targets throughout the camp. I had a lot of fun with it.”

Did you get any feedback from the SDSU coaches while you were there?

“Coach McGarry wants to keep in touch. I got the sense that Coach Horton was impressed with my camp performance.”

Which camp do you have next?

“Arizona.”

What has you excited about the Arizona camp?

“Arizona was my first unofficial visit. I love the campus and the coaches there. Last year, the heat was record breaking so we were not able to finish that camp out but I got MVP honors at their camp. This camp is a two-day camp. I’m looking forward to that.”

After Arizona where are you heading?

“Cal.”

What has you excited about attending Cal’s camp?

“During my sophomore year, we got to watch a game there. Cal has a very cool atmosphere. Two players from my high school go there. Kanawai Noa (redshirt sophomore) holds the state record for receiving yards. I’m excited to go out there and compete.”

*The other player is junior offensive lineman Semisi Uluave; 6-5, 345.

Which camps do you have after Cal?

“Arizona State, Oregon State, San Jose State, Colorado, UCLA, Oregon, and USC.”

Which schools are showing recruiting interest in you but have not offered beyond the camps you have attended so far this summer?

“Army, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Colorado, and UCLA.”

How many offers do you have now?

“I have two offers. One from Hawaii and one from Navy.”

Since you’ve been out on the west coast, have you had a chance to do anything fun? Have you gone site-seeing or anything like that?

“We went to Magic Mountain (Six Flags – in Los Angeles area). I have never been a rollercoaster kind of person but I had to go on all the rides with my cousin. It was a lot of fun. X-2 was my favorite. That was intense. We rode it twice.”

Stephen, thanks for your time today and good luck with all of the upcoming camps.

“Thank you.”

Click on the link to see Stephen Barber’s 2016 Hudl highlight reel.

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Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Stephen Barber at the Santa Monica Pier (June 3, 2017).

Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Stephen Barber (red jersey) at the Azusa Pacific/PTP Kumite camp.