Interview with Sport Barkley

Today we’re joined by L. Sport Barclay — a lifelong athlete, learner, and respected leader in the world of basketball officiating. With over 20 years of experience as a basketball official in the Sacramento area — including 17 years at the collegiate level — Sport has officiated everything from high school state championships to junior college and NAIA games, and even men’s and women’s professional leagues. One of his career highlights includes officiating the Ball Brothers’ last high school state championship game at ARCO Arena. Currently, he serves as Co-Group Leader of the NCOA, an 80+ year-old training association supporting over 275 officials in the Sacramento region. Beyond basketball, Sport brings expertise in operational efficiency, training, and leadership development across both nonprofit and for-profit spaces. When he’s not on the court or leading officials, Sport is passionate about reading, writing, spoken word, and engaging with his community.