Marist’s Charles Barnes was fired up for his first Battle of Pulaski.
Barnes, a senior forward who transferred from De La Salle before the season, had heard plenty about the rivalry game against Brother Rice. But playing in it surpassed his expectations.
“There’s nothing like it,” Barnes said. “That was an awesome atmosphere I just played in. It feels surreal.
“It feels like, almost, a state championship game and we’re carrying around this huge trophy that I didn’t even know we had.”
Barnes made sure his team would capture that trophy — the Pulaski Post. He scored 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds Tuesday night to lead the visiting RedHawks to a 58-49 victory over the host Crusaders in Chicago.
Adoni Vassilakis finished with 16 points for Marist (19-2), which won in Brother Rice’s home gym for the first time since 2015. TJ Tate and Stephen Brown chipped in with six points apiece.
Marist’s Charles Barnes (14) goes up for a shot as Brother Rice’s Uriah Davis (3) and JJ Manos (21) defend during a nonconference game in Chicago on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Aiden Henderson led Brother Rice (13-8) with 15 points and eight rebounds. Charlie Wizgird scored 12 points, while Zach Grabowski followed with nine and Adam McBrearty added six.
Marist coach Brian Hynes, meanwhile, wasn’t surprised to see Barnes have a big night. He knew Barnes had this game circled on the calendar for a long time.
“When I finally met him after he transferred, I asked him, ‘What are you most looking forward to?’ Hynes said. “I remember this like it was yesterday. He said, ‘The Battle of Pulaski.’”
Barnes asserted himself right away, scoring eight points in the first quarter as Marist took a 14-9 lead.
Marist’s Charles Barnes (14) prepares for an inbounds pass against Brother Rice during a nonconference game in Chicago on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
It was another example of how Barnes hasn’t been afraid to take the lead on his new team. He immediately became the RedHawks’ go-to scorer.
“My role at De La Salle helped me with that,” Barnes said. “It helped cultivate me into this player and now it’s just second nature.
“All of it is thanks to coach Hynes and my teammates who are my brothers. They really embraced me when I came in.”
Marist led throughout the final 3 1/2 quarters, but the Crusaders hung tough and then pulled within 43-37 with 3:35 remaining. Vassilakis, however, scored the next five points to help seal the win.
Marist’s Charles Barnes (14) puts up a shot as Brother Rice’s JJ Manos (21) attempts to block during a nonconference game in Chicago on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
“We were talking about it in the locker room, how it was our last go at winning in this gym,” Vassilakis said. “We still had that bad feeling from when we lost by (18) my sophomore year.
“We didn’t want to feel that again.”
Vassilakis knew Barnes would help push Marist over the top.
“We told him it was going to be a great atmosphere and to take it in and have fun with it,” Vassilakis said. “He’s been great. He came out here and got us into our offense early, getting some buckets. He’s someone you can always count on.
“We have that trust in him that he can go get a bucket whenever we need him to.”
Hynes firmly believes that Barnes is good enough to play at a high level in college.
Marist’s Charles Barnes (14) falls back on defense as Brother Rice’s Charlie Wizgird (13) brings the ball up the court during a nonconference game in Chicago on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Those offers haven’t come yet, which Hynes attributes to the new era of college basketball, with teams focused on the transfer portal.
“In the past, he would have had 15 or 20 Division I offers,” Hynes said. “But with him, different from most kids, he’s OK with it. He’s got a plan. When you need high-character kids, he’s going to be a guy you want on your team.”
Barnes’ plan is simply to be patient.
“That all comes in time, I think,” Barnes said. “I just have to continue to fill out my frame and keep developing as a player.”
Future aside, the present was pretty sweet Tuesday night.
“I watched films of the games against Brother Rice from the past couple years and it looked awesome,” Barnes said. “It was. The fans came out and supported us more than I could have ever imagined.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/20/charles-barnes-marist-brother-rice-ihsa-boys-basketball/
