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A lot of people don't know the humble beginnings from which Rick came. "Little Ricky" as he was known in his hometown of Hickory, NC grew up very poor. Had to scrap for everything he ever got. From a very early age, he seemed to know he wanted to make basketball a career. His physical talents only lead him to be able to play at local Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory upon graduating from Hickory High School. Lenoir Rhyne at the time was an NAIA school. How many guys ever come from an obscure setting like that and aspire to the level Rick Barnes has achieved. No connections throuh a big time program of the 70s ala UCLA or UNC. No wealthy family to springboard him. Pure sweat equity stretched a long, long way. And even with his rise to fame he has never forgotten where he came from. Doubt many people realize that he has pledged $500,000 to his alma mater of Lenoir Rhyne where his college roomate, John Lentz, is the coach. Now to me, that says a heck of a lot about the character of the man.
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