The Dagger - NCAAB

The Dagger

Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:41 pm EST

With a little help from Skype, Harrison Barnes chooses UNC

By Eamonn Brennan

The No. 2 prospect in the country just committed, and he did it a little bit differently than most: with a Skype call.

Yes, the video messaging service usually reserved for college kids spending a semester overseas was used for a different purpose by Harrison Barnes, considered by some to be the best player in the class of 2010. Barnes used the service to reveal his much-awaited college choice, saying that he would be attending the school "of the coach I am about to Skype." After brief connection issues, North Carolina's Roy Williams -- surrounded by the rest of the Tar Heels, hunched over a laptop -- came on the other line.

Barnes' decision makes plenty of sense: He's a 6-foot-8 swingman whose game will be utilized very well in UNC's push-the-tempo attack. Add that to the allure of North Carolina basketball in general -- Barnes might already have Michael Jordan in his Blackberry contacts -- and the decision isn't all that hard to parse.

At the same time, Barnes's decision in effect causes him to turn his back on his hometown, Ames, Iowa, which has been fearing this day for a while. Barnes considered the Cyclones among his top three final schools. His mother works there; his father played there; and Barnes played his high school hoops with Iowa State coach Greg McDermott's son. Whether or not Barnes wants to admit it, he just turned his back on his hometown. Heck, he turned his back on all of Iowa.

Barnes had a choice: Be a god locally or a name nationally. Barnes chose the latter. And he did so with a well-considered speech and an unconventional, Internet-based video messaging technology. College basketball fans, welcome to 2010.

Related: ACC Basketball, Recruiting

digg delicious
more

33 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Coach Isiah Thompson
    1. Posted by Coach Isiah Thompson Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:59 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Asked why he chose Skype to deliver the message, Harrison Barnes only had this to say: "Easy peasy, lemon squeezy"!
  2. Peter D
    2. Posted by Peter D Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:48 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Marvin Williams v 2.0
  3. snd_dsgnr
    3. Posted by snd_dsgnr Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:00 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    "Barnes had a choice: Be a god locally or a name nationally."
    Right, because wanting a chance at a national title couldn't possibly have had anything to do with it. Kids leave their home states all the time. Did you say that John Wall "turned his back on NCSU, heck on all of NC" when he picked Memphis and then Kentucky?
    To paint the kid as somehow disloyal because he chose a nationally relevant program over one that has exactly one winning record in conference play this decade is absurd.
  4. allan
    4. Posted by allan Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:01 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    I seen some of this kids video. He has much better ball handling and shooting than Marvin did at that age.
  5. JHitts
    5. Posted by JHitts Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:57 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    @#3: The difference between John Wall and Harrison is that John Wall is from North Carolina. They have blue chip prospects out the wazoo. Iowa, on the other hand, has maybe never had a kid this good. Ever. I mean, look at the population of the state. And when there are blue chippers from Iowa, they're never all-areound athletes like this kid.Tthey're always tall, corn-fed white farmboys (see: Reaf LaFrentz, Nick Collison or in football, Tim Dwight). When was the last time an all-around athlete like this came from Iowa? I can't think of anyone like him from the state of Iowa. So its not really that absurd at all.
  6. GaryG
    6. Posted by GaryG Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:40 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Uh neal, the lacrosse players were cleared of rape charges. Dook still sucks though. Krzyzewski probably had to change his pants after the news.
  7. StevenL
    7. Posted by StevenL Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:08 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Poster #5 is a good indication of the caliber of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  8. StevenL
    8. Posted by StevenL Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:09 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Poster #5 is a good indication of the caliber of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  9. neal
    9. Posted by neal Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:27 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey StevenL(post #9), it's a RIVALRY, so pull your head out of your a$$ and get use to it!!!! There's always someone on these comment boards that just whines about someone else post and I guess it's you for this one................ I mean really, do you not think a dookie/KU fan/UCLA fan/OU fan would do the same if they landed him and stole him from their rival? Quit being such a self righteous prick................
  10. TobyFuenke
    10. Posted by TobyFuenke Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:34 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    I work in Ames, and trust me... the only person in town excited about his choice was himself.
  11. Steve
    11. Posted by Steve Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:35 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    can u say overrated?
  12. TIM S
    12. Posted by TIM S Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:51 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Go heels go roy williams is the man
  13. ATDavis
    13. Posted by ATDavis Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:52 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Carolina has got so many guys they could field two teams and probably play each other in the final 4...I am a Duke fan so the Barnes news sucks but K needs to regroup and at least get Roscoe Smith...oh and neal...there is also always one guy on these boards that puts up a garbage post...i guess it's you for this one!
  14. neal
    14. Posted by neal Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:02 am EST

    Report Abuse

    not garbage............ honest..........
  15. ATDavis
    15. Posted by ATDavis Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:12 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Bringing up the rape case is complete garbage....make fun of Duke (of DOOK) all u want...praise Roys recruiting talent...I could care less...but save that garbage for yourself...that was a serious charge and changed a lot of peoples lives...not a punchline on a stupid message board.
  16. neal
    16. Posted by neal Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:54 am EST

    Report Abuse

    who cares? it's not like they're model citizens............. they shouldn't have been screwing around in the first place. being a college athlete comes with the responsibility of an image and being a role model. that DOOK lacrosse team is the doormat of college sports. yeah, argue that they were kids trying have a good time, they still ignored their responsibilities, so yeah I will make them a punchline. That aside, it still doesn't change the point of my original comment that we walked into Iowa and stole Harrison Barnes from DOOK, but as far as the rape allegations go, GET OVER IT. they screwed up and they deserve everything they get.................
  17. ATDavis
    17. Posted by ATDavis Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:16 am EST

    Report Abuse

    You the man Neal...you have obviously got it all figured out!...UNC got a good one with Barnes though...maybe all those role models and model citizens at UNC deserve what they get?
  18. PsychoT_Rules
    18. Posted by PsychoT_Rules Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:30 am EST

    Report Abuse

    All I have to say is ha ha ha ha! As I have previously stated since the beginning of last season. The era of UNC is here. Ever since Roy (the best coach in college bball) and Psycho T (the best player this past decade in college bball) arrived. We are the best, and based on recruiting we will continue to be head and shoulders about all the rest of your pitiful schools! KU, KY, DU, OU, UCLA - all you are just dandruff. UNC National Champs this decade '10-'19!!!!
  19. neal
    19. Posted by neal Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:39 am EST

    Report Abuse

    no scandals or violations right, ATDavis? Roy runs a clean program and Butch is bringing in sketchier characters for football, but so far so good. we'll keep winning as we're suppose to
  20. 2-inch Punch
    20. Posted by 2-inch Punch Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:07 am EST

    Report Abuse

    I'm a die hard KU fan and this is a huge pick up for UNC. I'll admit that UNC is a force to be reckoned with, and they're not going away any time soon. However, you'll have to wait for your next championship because we got it in the bag this year!
    P.S. Bitter Iowa States-grow up. You're kidding yourself if you ever seriously thought Barnes was going to Iowa State...I don't care what his family's ties are to the university
    P.S.S. Duke fans-Coach K is slipping in terms of recruiting. You are not even in the same class as UNC any more. College basketball championships will be owned by the blue-bloods (UNC, KU, UK) for the next 10 years.
  21. scott h
    21. Posted by scott h Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:40 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Poster # 5 is hardly an indication of the caliber at UNC....He or she probably doesn't go to school....Most UNC students and fans have class...Bringing up the rape case was classless and stupid...Those kids lives we ruined by that crap!!! Yes they shouldn't have been "screwing around" but Lawson should not have been drinking under age either...These are kids and they all make mistakes....It's a rivalry but show some maturity and class for a change...! As far as the recruit, the guy is incredible. Long, great ball handler and shooter...Should be a good fit for the Carolina system....Go Heels!!!
  22. JHitts
    22. Posted by JHitts Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:37 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Um, #20, there were no bitter Iowa State fans here. I am, in fact, a Michigan State fan. I just was stating the obvious that it must suck for the state of Iowa when all their hometown kids get poached. Yeah, their programs generally suck but they've never had much talent in the state to build around. And when they do have it, they leave. That's just a fact. It sucks, but it is the reality. If Iowa or ISU could even get one of these hometown kids, maybe they could build on something.
    P.S. Lest you think your championship is "in the bag," you will have to get past Sparty first. Remember who knocked whom out last year? You may have all 5 starters back, but State has five of their top seven plus the big ten (and maybe national) player of the year in Kalin Lucas.
    Either way, I'm predicting another great tournament battle between the two.
  23. J H
    23. Posted by J H Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:34 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Besides being a UNC grad and a HUGE tar heels fan, I love it that Harrison is coming to UNC. Yeah hes a great basketball player who can get better playing under Coach Williams but most of all, hes a dedicated student, unlike John Wall who wasnt very good in academics. Its a given, Im NOT a dook fan at all, but their Lacrosse players took a bum rap which in the end proved to be lies, so I dont see why you simple minded idiots continue to bash them for it. Go Tar Heels!!!!!!!
  24. neal
    24. Posted by neal Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:24 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    simple minded? why act so above it? they'd do the same thing to us. maybe ya'll haven't been in cameron indoor or any other Carolina v. DOOK event, but i've been to my fair share. they taunt you, throw stuff at you and come very close to starting fights, so i don't give a damn if you think i've crossed the line. you obviously don't know. nothing is off limits to them, so stop acting like the perfect fans that are in it just for the game because there's a lot more to it. maybe the charges were dropped, but i can't say i remember a UNC team the put themselves in a situation to be accused of rape, so i'll use it against DOOK.
  25. rlovher2004
    25. Posted by rlovher2004 Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:26 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    I love the haters! feed off of your feelings!! congrats bruh!! let's get it unc!!!

The Dagger

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Jeff Eisenberg

The Dagger is a college basketball blog edited by Jeff Eisenberg. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Chris Chase, Matt Norlander,

Related Photo Gallery

More NCAAB Photos »

Featured NCAAB Video

More Videos »

Y! Sports Blogs

The Dagger Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)