Early Entrants

• ironman02

  jpake1;741278 wrote:I'm hearing that Barnes will go pro. Guess his ma told his hometown paper. We'll see very shortly.

  
  Where are you hearing this?
• centralbucksfan

  Add Kansas Josh Selby to the list who is leaving.
  
  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/04/14/selby.kansas.ap/index.html?eref=sihp
• Laley23

  

  centralbucksfan;741660 wrote:Add Kansas Josh Selby to the list who is leaving.
  
  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/04/14/selby.kansas.ap/index.html?eref=sihp

  
  We did, about a week ago
• karen lotz

  

  Kawhi Leonard has declared and will sign with an agent.
• ironman02

  Barnes' decision, or lack thereof, is turning into a complete media circus. It seems like every five minutes, someone is claiming to have sources that say he's returning, yet there is no announcement. Now Carolina insiders are giving conflicting reports...some say he's staying, others say he's now leaning toward declaring for the draft. I don't know what the hell to believe anymore. Barnes must be changing his mind constantly. I still think he wants to come back, but the fact that he's no worse than a Top 5 pick, and the money that comes with that, may be too much to pass up.
  
  Honestly, my gut feeling right now is that he's gone. Hope I'm wrong.
• jpake1

  

  I've heard his heart is at unc, but going pro is the smart choice since he's a top 5 and can further impress through workouts. People ARE telling him he can be #1 after workouts. My guy tells me Roy and his teammates get him back. He's top 5 whenever he comes out. Win a champ then get the money. He will need sold on this idea, and it might take Roy actually asking him for just one more year. If he follows his heart, he'sbaaack.
• the_system

  UNC is going to be a fun team to watch next year with or without Barnes. "Reports" that I've seen as late as yesterday say he is coming back. If he comes back...man they will be good with:
  
  Barnes
  Zeller
  Henson
  Marshall
  Bullock (healthy)
  Strickland (the guy seems out of control sometimes though)
  Hairston (great shooter)
  McAdoo (depth down low)
• jpake1

  

  They will be a very fun team to watch. Bullock will finally be healthy, something he wasn't last year. He can open a lot of eyes next year. Marshall has a full offseason to improve his finishing at the hoop and become a decent 3pt shooter. Once he gets even a respectable offensive game, that'll open things up so much for him and the team. I look for big things from Strickland. I thought he improved SO MUCH the last 10 games of the year. He's become a very good on ball defender and has finally started to get the idea of a full all around game. I don't see Hairston playing much at all. It'll be hard to get minutes over Strickland, McDonald, and then other wing players such as Barnes, Bullock, and Watts. Zeller has room for growth. He still doesn't have a shit load of games under his belt for being a SR. Henson can continue to add an offensive game and work at on court maturity. Barnes can get scary good over the offseason... which is scary. This team can become very, very scary.
• ironman02

  Here's what I gather with regard to Barnes. Any of this may or may not be true since I'm obviously not "in the know" myself, but here's what I'm hearing/reading.
  
  Barnes originally met with Zeller and Henson to discuss their plans. They all left that meeting thinking that they would come back.
  
  The players then met with Roy to see what feedback he had for them from NBA people. Zeller and Henson weren't guaranteed lottery, so obviously they were coming back. Barnes, on the other hand, was Top 5, maybe even #1 overall depending on who was picking in that slot, so he had a tougher decision to make.
  
  Barnes is conflicted because he wants to come back to Carolina to accomplish the team and individual goals that he has set, but the money, and being able to take care of his family for life, is hard to turn down. He has been getting more feedback from NBA people, and they're telling him that he's no worse than the 3rd pick overall. Certain team(s) are telling Roy that they will definitely take him with their pick, so that complicates the situation even more.
  
  Apparently Barnes met with Roy again yesterday, and after that meeting, the "Barnes is gone" talk really heated up. He had been heavily leaning toward returning, but now after listening to Roy and those around him, for the first time he may actually be leaning toward leaving. I think Roy is telling him that he should go, much like he did with Marvin Williams. If Barnes decides that he wants to come back, Roy isn't going to tell him no, but he's not really trying to convince him to do so. If anything, he's telling him that the smart decision is to take the money.
  
  Anyway, that's how I see it. I won't be upset with Barnes if he leaves. Going pro and cashing in on guaranteed millions is something that you can't blame him for doing. The Carolina fan in me, though, wants him back in Chapel Hill for a shot at becoming a Carolina legend, and potentially bringing home title #6.
• Azubuike24

  

  Sounds like we will hear from Kentucky's Terrence Jones tomorrow.
• ironman02

  Azubuike24;743205 wrote:Sounds like we will hear from Kentucky's Terrence Jones tomorrow.

  Any idea which way he's leaning?
• hoops23

  

  ironman02;743259 wrote:Any idea which way he's leaning?

  
  I like Terrence Jones' game, but I think he needs 1 more year. In the games I watched for UK, he disappeared for stretches.
  
  Then again, I've always said the best way to get better is to just go to the NBA and work on your game as a full time job with the best coaches in the world.
• wildcats20

  

  Harrison Barnes will be back in Chapel Hill for his sophomore year.
• lhslep134

  

  Holy crap
  
  Duke
  UNC
  OSU
  Kentucky
  
  Are all going to be LOADED.
• mallymal614

  My preseason top 5
  
  1. North Carolina
  2. Ohio State
  3. Kentucky
  4. Texas
  5. Duke
• Laley23

  

  Duke lost Irving, Singler and Smith. Thats a lot. They will be good, but I doubt they are top 5 good. Not with the amount of talent returning elsewhere.
• Prescott

  North Carolina's Harrison Barnes, one of the best players in the college game in 2011, is indeed returning for his sophomore season.

  http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/29861/harrison-barness-decision-hints-at-larger-shift
• SportsAndLady

  

  Kansas right now is a top 15-20 team...but if they get Daniels and Lacey, they will be top 5.
• swamisez

  

  Duke will be fine. Should Daniels commit as expected they will be more than fine. Strangely I think they will be a better team next year. I think at times they got caught standing and watching Nolan and kyrie. They will be very young but should be very capable.
  
  Carolina will again go as Kendal Marshall goes. They need that distribution to make it all work. IMO Harrison needed another year to develop some consistency. This will be good for his career.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Swami, you heard anything from Daniels' visit? I thought before his visit that if he didn't commit during his visit or a day or two after, KU would be in good shape. Then again, that's just my thoughts..it could obviously be different...you heard anything?
  
  Edit: just saw Self has an in-home visit with Daniels today...hopefully he can continue his last second recruiting magic that he's so famous for.
• swamisez

  

  Borman at IMG indicated Daniels would have his family with him for the duke visit and would do the in-home with self. No indicator either way many feel he is duke's to lose.
• SportsAndLady

  

  I feel it is Duke's to lose as well. But the longer the decision isn't made, the better for KU.
• wildcats20

  

  Lamb will be back in Lexington next year.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Murphy will be enrolled early, and playing next season for Duke.
  
  Daniels, come on down (to Kansas).
• Mulva

  

  Don't sleep on Baylor next year either. Bring back everyone (I believe) expect Dunn, and add another lottery lock in Quincey Miller, the #1 JUCO point guard, and an additional top 50 prospect in Deuce Bello.
  
  Acy, Jones, and Miller in the same frontcourt? Scary.