UNC's Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Kendall Marshall Declare for NBA Draft

As we expected, the North Carolina Tar Heels will be taking a massive hit to their roster as some of the best players in the nation leave to the NBA. 

Inside Carolina reported via Twitter that UNC standouts John Henson, Kendall Marshall and Harrison Barnes will be leaving for the bright lights of the professional game.

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It's now official: Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Kendall Marshall are entering the NBA Draft.

— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) March 29, 2012"

The Tar Heels are losing no less than the heart and soul of the team that just went to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament despite losing Kendall Marshall to a wrist injury. 

This is no doubt a tremendous blow to Tar Heels fans, who will see a huge chunk of the production on both ends of the court leave in one mass exodus. 

On the other side, this a day of celebration for a few Tar Heels stars that have earned the right to play on the next level. 

Simply put, there are three North Carolina students that will soon live out their wildest dreams and play in the NBA. 

Head coach Roy Williams echoed this thought, via WFMY. 

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It's a great day for three youngsters who are taking another step toward their ultimate goal of playing professional basketball. On a very small stage, it's a sad day for me because I won't get to coach them again. All Tar Heel fans will miss them greatly, as well.

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John Henson was the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and will immediately bring a tenacious passion for defense to any NBA team. 

Kendall Marshall was the impetus behind a great North Carolina offense. He averaged 7.8 points and 9.7 assists per game on the year.  His real impact was visible when he went down with a wrist injury in a tournament matchup with Creighton. 

North Carolina wasn't nearly the same team in their win over Ohio and subsequent loss to Kansas. Marshall's court vision and poise is second to none. 

As for Harrison Barnes, the future is as bright as any prospect going pro. He averaged 17.4 points per game this season and has one of the more refined games of any player entering the draft. 

The NBA is about to welcome some truly talented young men. 

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