Barkley got his start at Whitehall High School in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, where he was also a star running back for the Whitehall Zephyrs. He came to know the Hartmans because Bob Hartman, Maisey and Zack's father, is the athletic director at Whitehall.

Barkley has consistently given shout-outs to his former teachers. And they have all echoed that the Eagles running back's impact is still felt by them personally over a decade later.

Christina Mondschein was a star athlete at Salisbury High in the 1970s when her last name was Thomas. As a senior, she was the school’s female athlete of the year and starred in field hockey, basketball and softball, and was selected the team MVP in the latter two sports.