Harrison Barnes took his recruiting announcement to a new level.
In a press conference at Ames (Iowa) High School, the 6-foot-6 Barnes sat at a table showcasing the insignias of each of his final six schools. He then praised each program before calling his final choice via Skype.
After the connection appeared to briefly drop out, Barnes looked at the computer and said “Coach Roy Williams.”
A picture of Williams and his North Carolina players popped up on an oversized screen in the auditorium.
At that point the crowd at Ames let out a roar of applause. Duke fans probably dropped to the floor wherever they were.
“We’ve got the whole team here,” said Williams, coach of the defending NCAA champion Tar Heels.
“I can see that,” Barnes replied.
“I need to get going signing my Letter of Intent here but I just wanted to let you know I’ll be joining you guys next year on the squad and I can’t wait to play with all you guys,” Barnes added.
“All right,” Williams exclaimed.
Barnes joins a powerhouse class that includes Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall.
“You’re talking about getting to a national championship game next year for the North Carolina Tar Heels,” ESPN’s Paul Biancardi said.
Barnes, No. 2 in the Class of 2010 according to Rivals, chose Carolina over Duke, UCLA, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa State.
“Not only is Coach Williams so good at instructing the game but I felt that I had developed a great relationship with the players and I’m just so anxious to play with them,” Barnes told ESPNU.
In choosing Carolina over Duke, Barnes opted not to join his good friend Kyrie Irving, the point guard from Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick who referred to Barnes as an “big brother” when he announced.
What will it feel like when Barnes makes that first trip to Cameron Indoor with the Heels in 2010?
“I think it will be one of the greateset feelings to be able play in front of the Cameron Crazies because I’ve been and I’ve seen the North Carolina rivalry and I think it will be absolutely great and I think it will be a great game,” he said.
How does Barnes fit in with Carolina’s program and what will his role be?
“They play a very up and down tempo and that’s something I like to do,” he said. “I hope that I can just come in there and add my contributions to hopefully help us win a national championship.”
Barnes’ mom works at Iowa State and his father played there, but Barnes said, “It was so close to home and I would’ve done so much there. But at the same time I will take Iowa wherever I decide to go.”
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jimo / November 13, 2009
I’m speechless. I wanted him to pick to Duke, but I wish him all the luck at UNC. It’s hard not to root for a kid like Harrison.
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espnmike / November 13, 2009
No, f**k him. When he comes to Cameron Indoor Stadium, we will be sure to let him know that he made the wrong decision. Boo his a** off the court.
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raine08 / November 13, 2009
so you’re going to boo a kid bc he didnt want to come to your school…what do you do when a girl turns you down? stalk her?
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TheBetterBlue / November 14, 2009
You are asking a dookie. He probably gets a tat of the girl’s name on his lower back (tramp stamp) and then tries to build a robot to look identical to her.
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DAJayhawk / November 14, 2009
I am a Kansas fan and I wish Harrison Barnes the best while he is at North Carolina! Only in the ACC though! Don’t get me wrong I wish we would of signed him, if not us Duke. But, he had to make the best choice for him. I just didn’t care for the way Roy William came into HB’s recruitment later then Duke and Kansas did a get this kid. Duke and KU recruited this kid for a long time and it is sad that Roy came in and pick him up after only recruiting him for a short period of time (his senior year). But, that is recruiting in college basketball! One question that I do have is, why couldn’t Roy William recruite year in and year out at Kansas like he does at North Carolina? He did some great recruiting at KU, but no where near like he has done at Carolina. But, I think Roy has done a lot more while at KU with less talent, then he has at Carolina with more talent. Roy’s a good man and I wish him well!
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RockChalkWoody / November 14, 2009
Good luck to HB. I would’ve loved to have seen him in Crimson & Blue, but life goes on. Something tells me that the Jayhawks will be just fine without him.
espnmike, maybe HB saw that Titanic video and got scared?
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espnmike / November 14, 2009
haha maybe you’re right. if that’s the case, here’s hoping that roscoe smith has a better sense of humor.
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espnmike / November 14, 2009
fair enough. i’m not as angry now as when it happened, but the fact is that he is now a member of duke’s biggest rival. i’m not gonna pretend like i hope he has a monster career at unc.
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Hawkdaddy23 / November 15, 2009
Jayhawk fans all remember that “‘ol Roy” when he was at Kansas would never go recruit the Atlantic coast from Virg to Florida out of respect to Dean Smith. He had a great connection to California – Paul Pierce, Gooden, etc. but never worked the Tar Heel’s prime recruiting grounds. Watch Bill Self swoop in and pull one out from under Roy sometime soon.
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