Outlook

Layla Barnes is an active blue collar type big that will fit the mold of some of our past bigs in terms of controlling the paint.… Looks to provide the Cavaliers a big-time presence this season.

Freshman Year 2025-26
Helped JCCC secure a second straight undefeated regular season in program history, finishing 30-0 … The Cavaliers would finish the season as KJCCC D-II champions, Region 6 champions, earn the No. 1 seed at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament where they would finish in third-place with an overall record of 35-1, establishing a new team records for victories and best winning percentage … Played in 36 games, three as a starter … Averaged 3.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and tied for second on the team with 18 blocked shots … Shot 53.8 percent from the field over the season, and upped that percentage to 62.1 in conference play … Scored in double figures in four games, had 10+ rebounds three times and recorded two double-doubles … Was the team’s top rebounder twice … In her second game came in off the bench to post 12 points and eight rebounds in a 99-61 win over Central (11-1-25) … Followed with five points, six rebounds and two blocks in a 103-59 victor over Bethany JV (11-4-25) … Finished with six points and six rebounds in a 70-30 win over Iowa Lakes (11-7-25) … Grabbed 10 rebounds and scored four points in a 99-28 win over Southwestern the following day (11-8-25) … Recorded her first double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 119-43 blowout over Saint Mary JV (11-14-25) … Had four points and seven rebounds in a 77-44 win over No. 15 North Central Missouri (11-15-25) … Picked up her second double-double in the second meeting with Saint Mary JV, finishing with 11 points and 13 boards in a 113-35 romp over the Spires (12-8-25) … Had three points and seven rebounds in an 85-56 win over No. 10 Parkland (12-12-25) … Tallied 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in a 110-38 drubbing of Treasure Valley to open the second half  of the season (1-2-26) … Tied for the team-high with eight rebounds in a 101-35 victory at Metropolitan (1-10-26) … Finished with nine rebounds and four points in an 86-35 win over Graceland JV (1-11-26) … Was 5-for-6 from the field for 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in a 108-39 blowout over Highland (2-7-26) … Tied for the team lead with seven rebounds in a 76-50 win at Kansas City Kansas (2-11-26) … Finished with five points and seven boards to help JCCC to an 82-56 win over Neosho County in the Region 6 Championship Game (3-7-26) … Opened the NJCAA Division II National Tournament with five rebounds and two points in an 83-58 win over No. 21 Cleveland (3-17-26) … Followed with another five-rebound, two-point effort in a 79-77 win over No. 11 North Iowa Area in the quarterfinals (3-19-26) … Had five boards and two blocks in JCCC’s buzzer-beating loss to No. 6 Pima in the semifinals (3-20-26) … Capped the tournament with four rebounds, two points and a block to help JCCC capture third-place with a 77-66 win over No. 4 Illinois Central (3-21-26) … Finished the tournament with 19 rebounds for an average of 4.8 per game.

High School
Was a two-year starter for coaches Bruce Erickson and Natallie Knight at Blue Valley High School, Overland Park, Kan. … Graduated 2025 … Selected Kansas 6A All-State honorable mention by Sports in Kansas as a senior … Named All-Eastern Kansas League third-team as a senior and honorable mention her junior year … Selected to play for Team Kansas in the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game as a senior …  Averaged 7.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and nearly a block per game as a junior … Reached double figures scoring six time, and topped double digit in rebounds twice … Posted her season highs for points and rebounds with 17 and 11 against Manhattan (1-19-24) …  Averaged 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds her senior season … Played one season of club basketball for MOKAN coached by Dru Wheatcroft … Honor roll student … Dean’s List as a junior and senior.

Personal
Born Layla Elizabeth Barnes on January 25, 2007, in Overland Park,  Kan. … Nickname is Lay … Daughter of Chris and Christian Barnes … Major is undecided … Also recruited by University of Illinois Springfield, Henderson State University and William Jewell College … Favorite foods are pork steak, raw oysters and lobster … Favorite fast food restaurant is McDonald’s …. Favorite restaurant is Mongolian BBQ … Favorite TV shows are Mike and Molly and Friends … Favorite movies are Zero Dark 30 and I Hate Christian Laettner … Favorite sports movies are Last Dance, Hustle and Like Mike … Favorite actor is Val Kilmer … Favorite book is Jawbreaker … Favorite music entertainers are Alex Warren, Jordan Davis, Luke Combs and Luke Bryant … Favorite cartoon character is Daffy Duck … Favorite athletes are Michael Jordan, Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards … Favorite sports team is the Minnesota Timberwolves … Best player she has played against is former Blue. Valley North and current Kansas Jayhawk guard Jaliyah Davis and Blue Valley North and Harvard guard Aubrey Shaw … Greatest sports moment was drawing three fouls in five seconds … Notable alumni from her school are MLB pitcher Ryne Stanek and Tara Nott, a gold medalist in weightlifting at the 2000 Summer Olympics.