With three Universal Basketball Association (UBA) titles and just as many league MVP awards alongside his name, Jermaine Barnes is now preparing to put his talent on display during the William Jones Cup in August.

The former Morrow High School star and current member of the GIE Morrow Disciples will play for the U.S. National Team from Aug. 18-26 in Taipei City, Taiwan.

“It’s an honor to be chosen to play against NBA-caliber players on ESPN,” said Barnes, who was selected to the Usbasket.com All-United States Second Team.

Before participating in this event, Barnes, who averaged 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals last season for the Disciples, is scheduled to play with his GIE Morrow teammates in Uganda against the African National Team later this month.

Then after this contest and the Jones Cup, Barnes will meet with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League.

“I wanted to go through the draft process but the D-Fenders wanted me to come in for a workout,” Barnes said.

To remain sharp and keep his stroke intact, Barnes is currently training at Morris Brown College daily. He attempts to make 600 shots a day while working on his endurance and footwork, which is key in his ability to score at will.

“The good thing about it is I’m a big guard who is really playing in the post,” said the 6-foot-5 Barnes. “I post up all the two guards so I can see over the top of them and shoot over the top of them.

“Then if there is another big guard I can take him outside or go by him,” Barnes said. “It’s a constant mismatch for anybody trying to defend me.”

Barnes admits he was just a dunker and rebounder in high school and didn’t really learn how to score until he broke his ankle.

“Once the injury happened after junior college, I really took the time out that offseason to study Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Richmond and guys who caught the ball in the triple threat and studied the defender’s feet,” Barnes said.

“If he was lined up in a certain direction I would know what points to attack so I could get my shot off,” he said. “Then only thing I had to do is create my separation and the shot was going down because I had prepared.”