'Big Ced' no longer plays in his brother's shadow

NORFOLK - Cedric Barfield followed his older brother Marquise through Norview High School, picking up the nickname "Little Q" early on.

Now a senior, he answers to "Big Ced."

"I used to be in his shadow," Barfield said, "but now I'm not in his shadow anymore."

Barfield has emerged as one of the top point guards in the Eastern District. He can find open teammates for an easy basket. He can create his own points with his quickness to the rim or pull up for a deep 3-pointer. He also doesn't mind sacrificing his 5-foot-8 frame for rebounds, as he did last week against Granby when he grabbed eight. And he can guard the opponent's best offensive weapon.

Norview coach Jonathan Wilson calls him a "coach's dream." Barfield, Wilson said, may be small, but he's deceptive and has a tremendous work ethic and mental toughness.

"He's my most valuable player," Wilson said. "He's like the glue that keeps everything together."

Barfield's brother also was a good player, but Marquise said he wasn't focused. He transferred to Fishburne Military School, but things didn't work out, so he's back in Norfolk, hoping to play at a junior college.

He doesn't want Cedric to make the same mistakes.

"I stay on him hard, and I think he's learned from my past," said Marquise, who attends all of Cedric's games. "I remind him to not follow people but to be a leader."

Cedric is getting interest from Division II and III college recruiters, who like his basketball skills and his 3.2 grade-point average.

He credits his brother for motivation.

"He's like a mentor to me so I don't go down the same path that he went," Barfield said. "He tells me what I did well and what I need to work on. And he reminds me about keeping my grades up."

It's worked: Barfield has the Pilots (16-2) - ranked fourth in South Hampton Roads - in position to win the Eastern District regular-season title. They hold a one-game lead with four to play.

"We went from not getting any respect to getting recognition," he said. "But we still have to keep proving ourselves."

Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com