Robert Barnes was the first dominant presence in Belmont Basketball history. He was a two-time Honorable Mention All-American and was named the first VSAC Player of the Year in 1956. Barnes ranked fourth nationally in scoring as a sophomore and sixth nationally as a junior. His 301 free throws in 1955 led the nation.

Barnes ranks third on Belmont’s all-time scoring list with 2,305 points and holds school records for career scoring average (28.2), career free throws made (741), and free throws made in a season (301). He also ranks second in career rebounding average (13.7). Known as “The Rock” to his coaches and teammates, Robert is one of only two Belmont men’s basketball players to have their jerseys retired.

His Coach, Larry Striplin, honored Robert by creating the Robert E. Barnes Graduate Scholarship Award given annually to an outstanding Belmont graduating student-athlete to help with their graduate school expenses.