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.