NBA Draft 2012: Why Terrence Jones Is a Better NBA Prospect Than Harrison Barnes

We've been hearing for years that Harrison Barnes is the next big thing.

But the time has come for the hype to be squashed.

Is North Carolina's star small forward a lottery pick if he declares for the 2012 NBA draft? Of course he is. His scoring ability alone makes him one.

But there's another forward who has risen just as much as Barnes has fallen in the NCAA Tournament, and his name is Terrence Jones.

It's time to reevaluate both Jones and Barnes. Headed into this season, Jones and Barnes had more distance between them than Bob Knight and John Calipari. Jones was a headcase whose inconsistency consistently held him back. Barnes was a silky-smooth athlete who could score from anywhere and didn't appear to let anything rattle him.

Fast-forward to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Perhaps what was so concerning about Barnes in the tournament was not that he merely struggled—it's that he had trouble creating his own shot without point guard Kendall Marshall. For a prospect who doesn't do much more than score the basketball, that's a red flag.

Now look at Jones. He's stepped up time and time again for Kentucky in the tournament. He's averaged 13.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals in four tourney games. Beyond that, his excellent passing ability was highlighted against Baylor in the Elite Eight, when he dished six assists.

Sure, Jones and Barnes are fairly different players. Barnes is a pure scorer, while Jones is dangerous because he can contribute in several areas.

But when I look at both prospects right now, taking everything into account, I honestly like Jones better. I think he can make a bigger overall impact in the NBA than Barnes. He screams "Lamar Odom" to me.

Of course, the NCAA Tournament could end, Jones could get drafted and then he could resort back to his inconsistent, immature self of yore.

But I've seen something in Jones this tournament that doesn't appear to be a fluke. He's been more headstrong than I've ever seen him. He doesn't just look like an accompanying piece for the No. 1 team in the land—he looks like a core piece.

And I expect him to carry this momentum into the NBA.

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