After starting his playing career at Colorado and LSU, Barksdale eventually found his way to UALR where in just three seasons (1998-01) he was able to join the school's 1,000-point club and set school records for three pointers made in a season and career. A 6-4 guard, Barksdale was twice ranked in the top-10 nationally for made three pointers per game and is fifth all-time in Sun Belt Conference history with 255 career three pointers.

A native of Livingston, La., Barksdale was a two-time All-State selection at Central High School in Baton Rouge. Following a standout prep career, Barksdale played one semester at Colorado before transferring to LSU. After sitting out his one semester at LSU, Barksdale transferred to Meridian Junior College where he earned All-Region XXIII honors after averaging 18.6 points per game with a .613 three-point percentage.

He made an immediate impact in his first season at UALR, earning All-Sun Belt Conference honors after averaging a team-high 14.8 points per game with a school-record 95 made three pointers. He finished third in the nation with a 3.8 three pointers per game average and led the Sun Belt with a .408 three-point percentage.

As a junior, Barksdale averaged 13.5 points per game and shot 38.3 percent from three-point range (80-of-209). Once again Barksdale led the Sun Belt Conference in three-point field goals per game (3.33), which was good enough to tie him for eighth in the country. He had one of the best games of his career that season against Arkansas State (2/19/00), going 8-of-13 from three-point range on his way to a 28-point, eight-assist, six-rebound performance.

The 2000-01 season saw Barksdale shoot a career-best 44.9 percent from beyond the arc (80-of-178), which led the Sun Belt Conference and placed him 13th nationally. He also converted 42-of-47 foul shots on his way to a school-record .894 free-throw percentage, and averaged 12.3 points per game to help the Trojans to an 18-11 mark under first-year head coach Porter Moser.

Barksdale averaged 13.5 points per game over his three-year career to finish with 1,054 points, good enough for 14th place on UALR's all-time scoring list. He holds the UALR record for three pointers in a season (95) and career (255), as well as the record for career three-point percentage (.411) and single-season free-throw percentage (.894). He sits third on UALR's all-time list for career free-throw percentage with an .841 mark (111-of-132).

Barksdale graduated from UALR in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in business administration specializing in finance, and has worked for Crews & Associates for the last six years. He and his wife, Brooke, have two kids, Jackson and Easton, with a third on the way.