MetroNews has learned that former WVIAC basketball legend, Mike Barrett has passed away in Nashville, TN after a battle with cancer.
One of Barrett’s college teammates and the former Director of Athletics at WVU Tech, Pete Kelley, informed us today of Barrett’s passing.
Barrett was a high school sensation at Richwood High School. He then became a legend in the WVIAC in 1964 and 1965 playing for the Golden Bears and leading them to back to back conference titles under legendary head coach Neil Baisi.
Following two seasons at Tech, Barrett joined the Navy and continued to play for several Navy based teams. He tried out for the U. S. Olympic team in 1968 and made the squad. That U. S. team was led by Spencer Haywood and Jo Jo White and went on to win the Gold Medal in the Summer Olympics in Mexico City.