Harrison Barnes recruiting thread

[moonpie23]

"aw shucks" is limited in power on an intelligent mind. HB will make his decision on how he and the right program fit together....not by who he sees last.

[DUKIE V(A)]

Wow! This is really getting heated and even more interesting. I respect HB and his family for doing their homework and taking advantage of every opportunity to meet with all programs still in contention for his services. HB is doing what he maintained he was going to do all along ... take his time and look at his options carefully before making an incredibly important decision. I don't blame him one bit for doing so even if it means Carolina is a possibility.

From the outside, it seems that Duke and Carolina are in fairly good position. I have not heard so much about Kansas or Iowa State lately. I wonder about whether the recent news regarding the Football/Basketball Fued in Kansas is off-putting to the Barnes family and may give a leg up to Duke and Carolina.

In the end, the family will make an excellent decision for themselves. Let's hope they decide Duke is the best place for HB. It would be outstanding to get a person and player in the mold of G. Hill, Battier, etc. Anyway, I know Coach K and his staff is going to do everything they can do to show him what Duke has to offer. That's all they can do. If HB ends up picking Carolina or some other program, I expect that it will be "goodness of fit" rather than "one-upsmanship" that is the deciding factor.

[UrinalCake]

So instead of focusing so much on Roy... does anyone have any news on how Coach K's visit went?

[allenmurray]

So instead of focusing so much on Roy... does anyone have any news on how Coach K's visit went?

A highly exclusive board to which I subscirbe reported the following:

Roy stirred water into a package of kool-aid mix and made some faux lemonade for Barnes to drink as a refreshment during the visit.

K turned tap water into a 1995 Chteau Valandraud Saint-Emilion. If Barnes likes fine wines I think we're in good shape. On the other hand, if he prefers to drink the kool-aid . . .

[NSDukeFan]

A highly exclusive board to which I subscirbe reported the following:

Roy stirred water into a package of kool-aid mix and made some faux lemonade for Barnes to drink as a refreshment during the visit.

K turned tap water into a 1995 Chteau Valandraud Saint-Emilion. If Barnes likes fine wines I think we're in good shape. On the other hand, if he prefers to drink the kool-aid . . .

OOOOHHh Noooooooooo,
Harrison is underage and therefore would have to drink the Kool-Aid. We're doomed, the sky is falling.

[chrisheery]

Another telling of this story. Somehow, I doubt Harrison called Roy.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketb...n=ncaab,194284

[JG Nothing]

Another telling of this story. Somehow, I doubt Harrison called Roy.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketb...n=ncaab,194284

Dave Odom has interesting comments on the Barnes recruiting battle. He puts it all in perspective at the 9:10 mark.
http://bustersports.com/podcast/coll...ecruiting-war/

[eightyearoldsdude]

Odum speaks on the issue: http://bustersports.com/podcast/coll...ecruiting-war/

[sandinmyshoes]

Another telling of this story. Somehow, I doubt Harrison called Roy.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketb...n=ncaab,194284

Dave Odom evidently reported that the Barnes family called Williams for the follow up visit.

I don't think any of this means we've lost Barnes, but it has got to be obvious to anyone who can muster up any objectivity at all, that Williams has done a masterful job of turning UNC into a very serious threat in this, and that we could lose Barnes to UNC.

Next Jaunary, my New Year's resolution is going to be to stop following recruiting.

[ice-9]

Odom makes it seem as though UNC was the leader and that Coach K managed to cause enouh doubt for Harrison to want to call Ol' Roy down.

Doesn't seem good for us... But I'm hopeful.

[Kedsy]

There is reason to worry. Like a Canadian Mountie, Deputy Dawg always gets his man.

Other than arguably Brandon Wright, who has Ol' Roy "stolen" from Duke? Leslie McDonald? Why do people think he can just snap his fingers and get everyone he wants? Seems kind of paranoid to me.

Also, is all the panic really warranted around here every time another coach (esp. Roy or Calimari) spends time with a recruit? It's like the kid at a high school dance who balls up his fists every time another guy talks to his girlfriend. Rather silly, if you ask me.

[roywhite]

Odom makes it seem as though UNC was the leader and that Coach K managed to cause enouh doubt for Harrison to want to call Ol' Roy down.

Doesn't seem good for us... But I'm hopeful.

Odom's version strains credibility, if I understood it as he laid it out. That while or shortly after Coach K visited the Barnes home in Ames, Iowa, that HB or someone else called Chapel Hill to have Roy come out and review some things??

So Coach K is in-home from 4:00 or 4:30 PM till 6:30 or so and the call is placed when??

Are we to believe that "Aw Shucks 1" the official Tarheel recruiting plane was warming up on the runway for just such a situation and that Roy was located, got to the airstrip, jumped in and made it to the Barnes doorstep by 9:00 PM or so??

[DukeHoopsGuru]

I'm a very infrequent poster, and I'm not someone that follows Twitter feeds and all that, but I do follow recruiting. Nobody really knows for sure what is going on. However, I will say this. It truly will be a sign of a shift in power if Duke loses Harrison to UNC when they were on him longer, and he was their #1 priority from the start. The kid showed up to Duke to surprise Coach K AGAINST UNC, with cut hair, and a Duke shirt. If Duke does lose him to UNC, it is not a good sign.

There is still a little ways to go on this, but it does seem that UNC has peaked Harrison's interest...maybe even over Duke at this point. Time will tell, but losing this kid to UNC would be a major loss. No way to spin it.

[SupaDave]

FYI - I will start deleting SPHM posts. If all you can say is "I don't like this or I'm worried" your post will be deleted...

[airowe]

Odum speaks on the issue: http://bustersports.com/podcast/coll...ecruiting-war/

As roywhite said, the laws of physics do not support Odom's account of the events.

[Indoor66]

FYI - I will start deleting SPHM posts. If all you can say is "I don't like this or I'm worried" your post will be deleted...

Acronym : Definition
SPHM : Specialist in Public Health Medicine

What does SPHM mean to you?

[tommy]

A few weeks ago several posters, myself included, expressed concern that the star-studded UNC alumni game, with Barnes present at courtside sittiing next to Michael Jordan, was potentially a game changer in this recruiting battle. I was especiallly concerned in light of Barnes' experience there being compared to his experience watching Duke play Pfeiffer, which to me seems in comparison to be minor league. In any event, it does appear that the alumni game changed the course of this recruitment. Didn't it seem like the consensus opinion of those in the know was that, prior to the alumni game, Duke was -- perhaps along with Kansas -- the leader for Barnes? UNC was not really viewed as being in the mix. That alumni thing appears to have really wowed Harrison, and vaulted UNC right into the mix, and now, perhaps -- perhaps -- past us. Let's hope not.

[SupaDave]

Acronym : Definition
SPHM : Specialist in Public Health Medicine

What does SPHM mean to you?

SHPM or SPHM - it's your choice - just don't be one...

For all reading this thread and considering adding a post, please resist the temptation to either become a Shrieking Howler Panic Monkey (SHPM, trademarked by Throatybeard, I believe) or to respond to the SHPMs.

[airowe]

A few weeks ago several posters, myself included, expressed concern that the star-studded UNC alumni game, with Barnes present at courtside sittiing next to Michael Jordan, was potentially a game changer in this recruiting battle. I was especiallly concerned in light of Barnes' experience there being compared to his experience watching Duke play Pfeiffer, which to me seems in comparison to be minor league. In any event, it does appear that the alumni game changed the course of this recruitment. Didn't it seem like the consensus opinion of those in the know was that, prior to the alumni game, Duke was -- perhaps along with Kansas -- the leader for Barnes? UNC was not really viewed as being in the mix. That alumni thing appears to have really wowed Harrison, and vaulted UNC right into the mix, and now, perhaps -- perhaps -- past us. Let's hope not.

Tommy,

Harrison did NOT sit next to Jordan during the game.

As to your other point, its clear UNC has made up some ground but know that we still have the OV to make that ground up.

[Kedsy]

A few weeks ago several posters, myself included, expressed concern that the star-studded UNC alumni game, with Barnes present at courtside sittiing next to Michael Jordan, was potentially a game changer in this recruiting battle. I was especiallly concerned in light of Barnes' experience there being compared to his experience watching Duke play Pfeiffer, which to me seems in comparison to be minor league. In any event, it does appear that the alumni game changed the course of this recruitment. Didn't it seem like the consensus opinion of those in the know was that, prior to the alumni game, Duke was -- perhaps along with Kansas -- the leader for Barnes? UNC was not really viewed as being in the mix. That alumni thing appears to have really wowed Harrison, and vaulted UNC right into the mix, and now, perhaps -- perhaps -- past us. Let's hope not.

[RANT]
You think it was really the alumni game or could UNC's apparent climb into HB's consciousness possibly have anything to do with some other positive element(s) of the school, team, and/or coach?

From all I've read, Harrison Barnes appears to be a very bright, very thougtful individual, who is methodically researching the college environment that will best serve him and be most enjoyable for however long he's there. Do you really think the glitzy stuff is what's going to sway him?

For that matter do you really think the "consensus opinion" is truly related to what's going on in the recruit's head? The vast majority of what's written seems to consist of unattributed rumors and wishful thinking. How does that tell us anything?

I think many people around here have believed HB was a lock for Duke without any reasonable support. Now they believe UNC is going to "steal" him from us, again with no reasonable support. They may be right and they may be wrong, but they probably don't know which any more than I do.

Since I'm standing up here on my soapbox, I'd like to say that in the unfortunate case of HB deciding against us, it will be worth remembering that failing to make a gain is not the same as a loss. (I.e., we never had Harrison, how can he be stolen?)

Finally, I very much want to see HB in Duke blue, for all the right basketball and citizenship reasons, but the biggest reason I want to land him is I do not think I'll be able to bear all the whining and moaning about the end of Duke basketball as we know it if he goes elsewhere.
[/RANT]