Harrison Barnes should be the #1 pick.
With Barnes your going to get a solid player who can put up Jeff Green numbers of 16 and 6 with solid defense, and could even be better then that. He's an interesting player, but most people believe that you have to draft a game changer/franchise player with the number one pick and thats why even though Perry Jones hasn't really shown much this year because he has the potential everyone goes crazy for. Thats why I laugh when teams take gambles on people like Anthony Randolf or Perry when they could go for people they know are going to be solid players in the NBA like Barnes or Sullinger.
Hes definitely solidifying his stock as not being seperte from the elite bunch in this years class. When it comes to the top picks in this class I mean Williams, P.Jones, Irving, Kanter, Sullinger, and starting to look like Barnes. Fredette scored 52, but the fact that he is not a great defender, undersized and underathletic remains. The fact that Barnes has no flaring weakness's that will make him a liability, and srill dropped 40 on Clemson in a big game makes him extremely valueable. I never believed in the incredible hype people gave him comparing him to Kobe, Anthony, and Jordan and I never believed the people who said he is not even a lottery calibur player. Barnes is just Harrison Barnes, a very well rounded player that can help many NBA teams and likely will become a star in this league in some point of his career.
Heaven forbid an 18-year old freshman ever have a shooting slump.
Nov 19-Dec 8th- 7 games, 9.6 PPG, 27 FG%, 20 3FG%, 76.9 FT%, 6.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.3 BPG
Rest of the season- 25 games, 16.5 PPG, 45.9 FG%, 37.8 3FG%, 75.3 FT%, 5.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 0.4 BPG.
It might not have met the narrative of many in the national media who could not wait to slam a freshman for being named preseason All-American, but I said it then and say it again... it was a shooting slump. He missed open shots. It wasn't an inability to create or a lack of athleticism. He missed shots, and then a myriad of dopes like Fran Frachilla went back on the tape and use the results to then try to imagine faults in his game to explain his struggles.
yeah that Fredette description sounds like the one they had about mark price , Not athletic,not a great defender, undersized( none of that really matters though these days since many players are undersized in the NBA and Jimmer has shown he can shot over and go past NBA level athletes in these last two years in college).
As far as Barnes i think he has moved his self into top three talk. I believe Irving is the number one pick if he declares. Barnes has been dropping according to scouts who have talked to Hoopsworld and ESPN saying he's not a out of this world athlete and isn't a SF nor a game changer
If Barnes can carry North Carolina to the elite eight, the final four, or even the national championship game I think he would be the #1 pick if Cleveland got it. Since LeBron left they need a small forward, so I easily could see him being the #1 pick if he does what I said.
This NC team looked completely out of wack earlier in the year, but Roy deciding to go with offense over defense and replacing Larry Drew with Kendall Marshall really turned the team around. They may indeed play themselves into a number 1 seed if they beat Duke in the ACC championship. Harrison also has gained a lot of confidence as the year has come on, and is showing why people thought so highly of him before he had even played a game in college. The guy can ball, he has a fantastic skill set, has a great attitude and has stepped up as the leader he was projected to be as the season has progressed. The fact that he has gotten better as the season has progressed is probably exactly what scouts want to see. I never dropped Harrison too low, and am very happy for him with this huge scoring performance today. He is going to be a lottery pick whenever he enters, and the Felipe Lopez comparisons people were dropping on this board were totally unfounded. He definitely has a shot at 1, and I see him being likely top 5-7. With this draft, that puts you in the upper echelon, it is wide open.
Also, on a separate note, do people not remember what Austin Rivers was saying about their not being a Duke/UNC rivalry?: "I don't think it's much of a rivalry right now because UNC's not better than Duke, nowhere near in my opinion," Rivers said with a smile. "Until UNC can start winning some games, I don't think it's much of a rivalry. They've got to do something first. Duke's done their share. I don't know about UNC." (Taken off of Realgm's article about what he said to the Orlando Sentinel on February 4).
Kind of funny, you know, seeing that UNC ended up winning the ACC and beating Duke to do so. Not to mention, is a little early to say something is not a rivalry when a team suffers one down year after winning a title in 2009? Needless too say, I do not know how serious Mr. Rivers was, but he kind of put his foot in his mouth (Much like Reggie Bullock did the year before in the UNC/Duke recruit video's, but he at least did not say it was not a rivalry). Well, just wanted to throw this out there, because Rivers seems to talk a big game, and while he is a fantastic player, we will see if he backs it up. Right now, Harrison Barnes and the rest of the Tar Heels are making him eat his words. Would be nice to see what happens in an ACC Tournament Finals between these RIVALS (Presuming Duke holds up their end of the bargain).
He will score very well on a good passing team. A unselfish passing team would be a good fit for Barnes. I did not see enough of Irving this year so I would not take him 1. Not being critical just did not see enough. I would roll the dice and take Perry Jones number 1 if he plays well against the other prospects in workouts. If he doe snot do well in Workouts then I would shy away. As of now I still take Perry.
I read somewhere that Cleveland's top two targets if they got the #1 pick would be Kyrie Irving and Harrison Barnes. The Cavaliers believe Barnes will be a better player in the NBA than he is in college and they believe Irving will also be good player in the NBA.
Also with whatever pick they get from the Clippers currently #8 they will be taking a close look at Jonas Valanciunas.
"And Barnes is nothing like Jeff Green."
Would you mind explaining this one for me? Because Harrison plays exactly like Green does right now. 6'8, decent handles, decent passing, high IQ, stretches the floor and can post up. Sounds like Green like to me
Lakeshow I agree with you actaully on Fredette, I have always thought he will be a good player in the L. I only stated that as a reason why teams will pass on him. Barnes doesnt really have to many flaws, plus the scoring package has tons of potential.
"He will score very well on a good passing team. A unselfish passing team would be a good fit for Barnes. I did not see enough of Irving this year so I would not take him 1. Not being critical just did not see enough. I would roll the dice and take Perry Jones number 1 if he plays well against the other prospects in workouts. If he doe snot do well in Workouts then I would shy away. As of now I still take Perry."
The reason the gamble on a point guard like Irving can be worth it is that there are two things that get an NBA team to reach their potential, good passing and good defense. It isn't rocket science. A good passing point guard makes everyone else's job easier. You can see it with Kendall Marshall at UNC. He puts his teammates in a position to succeed. This is why Jason Kidd is still an incredibly valuable point guard and why Ricky Rubio will continue to be an elite prospect despite not showing a great deal of improvement on his shot.
I like Jimmer as well, but it was IGGY9 who hyped him up as a lotto pick before EVERYONE. I remember that. Also, I think he's not better then Kemba at the next level.
I think Loul Deng is a good comparison for him, however, he's shown me he has that clutch gene, he can defend and he can shoot the 3. I wouldn't be shocked if Barnes was a 17-7 player with 35% 3 and a good late game player. I think if Barnes went to Sacramento or Washington, he'd be good.
am i the only one who thinks barnes would benefit by staying one more year? yes, he has proven that he is a good shooter, with decent athleticism, and a solid defender, but i think he is still not a leader yet. I just cant see him leading any nba team or be the builldling block from what i have seen so far. right now, i see him being the second option for some teams. if he does come out this year, i would probably pick him in the top 5, but i believe he would be a better player and solidify his stock by staying and dominating for one more year. He will be like blake griffin (im not saying they are the same type of player but their nba draft stock wise).
I think a better comparison for Harrison Barnes is Rudy Gay, but less athletic and a better shooter.
Coming out of college here is their comparisons:
Rudy Gay - 6'8, 220 pounds
Stats: 13.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 1.8 APG
Harrison Barnes - 6'8, 210 pounds
Stats: 15 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 1.4 APG
Like I said Gay is a little more athletic than Barnes, but Barnes is a little better shooter than Gay is.
Gay was picked with the #8 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, but he would have definitely gone higher if he carried Connecticut to the Final Four or the National Championship Game. They lost in the Elite Eight to the cinderella George Mason team.
Barnes will definitely go top three and possibly #1if he has a Carmelo Anthony/Gordon Hayward type of tournament run.
bkknicks.. i will give you your +1... but yeah seriously dont care too much about the point system.. its your own opinion... like tongue said in other thread.. sometimes.. you just post stuff.. ppl think you are a dumbass for saying crap.. but when it really comes true.. ppl are quiet.. i remember i predicted OKC will make the playoff next season in the beginning of 2008-2009 season before, and that in the 2009 draft, if dejuan blair comes out for the draft, he will be forgotten and drop to second round bc of his height.. but he will still be a solid player in the nba .. i posted in my blog and on espn.. i got so MUCH crap from other ppl.. but yeah.. it is what it is
Yah that Gay comparison looks like it was created completly on stats...Watching Barnes play makes me think he can probally get a little better in the athletisism department, he is a great athlete dont get me wrong. I just think if he puts the work in at an NBA level he can take another level in his all around athletisism, which could possibly take him to the next level as a player.
Also I love his triple threat potential.
Also he is a tougher player then JJ and has better defensive potential, I like that comparison and think it may start sticking. Also Wz I think his first step, and explosiveness attacking the rim can get alot better, even though its already good.
Barnes is more than just crafty; he, too, is a top flight athlete.
I don't get the Perry Jones love.
He has no position.
Has zero shooting range for SF and has zero post skills for PF.
He's a long athlete, not a basketball player.
Jared Jeffries/Anthony Randolph clone.
or was allowed 2 show. His mid range game is going to be more effective in the NBA where there is more space. He is stronger now than Randolph will ever be. He has good ball handling ability that he was never allowed to show. He was exclusively a post player. The best competition he face this year was Kansas in terms of going against the Morris twins and he was the only player on Baylor who played well that game. I don't think he is Amare or surefire, just gonna stick with him being the most talented and having a game suited for the L. I could be wrong, but I will stick by it and if I am wrong I am.
I think Barnes's strongest assest is getting his points in the flow of the offense. That's why the guy above me said that it was "the quietest 40 I've ever seen". The comparison that I really like is Luol Deng but with the craftiness of Paul Pierce. It seems like Barnes also has the clutch gene that the Truth has as well.
I agree about the quiet 40 points, I was watching the first half and he had scored a huge percentage of their points and I was thinking, has he really taken that many shots?
I really like Barnes' game. He needs to go to a team without a recognisable star player for the future so that he'll be given the responsibility to close and be confident from the get-go. That's the only way he reaches his ceiling. Sacramento, Minnesota and Washington. While Wall isn't a huge scorer yet, he will be in the Rose mould. It would be best for Washington if he ends up there, but we'll never see what Barnes can do if he's sharing the limelight with J-Wall. Toronto again has DeRozan who has been coming on strong lately.
Cleveland is the obvious landing place for Barnes, he fills their hole at SF, no player on the roster has star potential and he would immediately become the new face of the franchise. Plus, he'd have a veteran coach in Byron Scott.
However, less likely, but a better fit would be the Charlotte Bobcats. They just cleared out Gerald Wallace at SF and are in desperate need of some young talent to sell the fans, plus. Barnes is a high character kid who would go down a treat with folks in Charlotte. Also, he's a Tar Heel. I can see the Bobcats trading for Barnes somehow. Not sure how it'll happen, but I can just see him ending up there.
Not sure if he should be the #1 pick, but probably top five at least.
Oh well, a guy can dream.
I'm gonna say this. I hate when people make post hyping up players after a good quarter or good half. It's pointless to me.
With that being said, Harrison Barnes has 35 points and he's keeping North Carolina in this game. This whole season, he's been clutch. He wasn't the 1st team preseason all american we thought we were getting but the man has made play after play.
I understand we LOVE upside. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it, but I ask this: If Harrison Barnes turns out be a #2 guy, should we be upset? I think we all considered him for Grant Hill, but what if he is Loul Deng? A solid player, could get rebounds WITH the clutch gene? I think as of right now, Harrison Barnes has proven EVERYTHING to me to make him my #1 pick. I love Sullinger too, but I think Barnes will be the better pro.