NBA Draft 2012: Why Harrison Barnes Will Be the Greatest Pro in the 2012 Class

Harrison Barnes and his draft stock have taken a hit over the past few months, but don’t let the haters fool you. Barnes is the best talent in the 2012 class.

It was only two years ago when he was the undisputed No. 1 high school senior entering college and entered Chapel Hill with sky-high expectations from the get-go.

Standing at 6’8’’ and 223 pounds today, Barnes then had the handle of a point guard and the strength of a power forward. His freshmen year did nothing to temper those expectations when he averaged 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game as the leading scorer for the ‘Heels.

A 40-point performance against Clemson  was his most memorable performance. He scored at least 18 in all four NCAA tournament games and looked to be a top 2-3 pick in the 2011 draft.

But he decided there was some unfinished business to take care of and returned for his sophomore season.

It ended up being a mistake. What really killed him was the NCAA tournament, where he only mustered 14 points per game in four games.

Some say he was exposed once point guard Kendall Marshall broke his wrist.

I think it’s crazy to base a player off of four games.

Sure, he struggled to create his own shot without Marshall, but the entire team was shell-shocked when he went down. The offense wasn’t the same, and every player struggled to adjust.

Barnes is the prototypical size for a small forward in the NBA, with all of the tools to suggest he will flourish in the right system. He’s a very smooth player that has natural athleticism and great foot speed. Balance is never an issue.

He has the best mid-range jumper in the draft because of crisp and precise footwork that has been evident since the day he entered college. He’s extremely dangerous in transition and is an above-average passer for his position.

But the thing I love most about Barnes is his scoring ability. He has picture-perfect form on his jump shot and a lighting quick release. He has NBA range and can stop on a dime to pull-up from anywhere on the floor.

Barnes may not have the greatest quickness to create his own shot off the dribble, but that won’t be a problem as long as he plays in an offense that relies on a fast pace and plenty of ball screens.

Defensively he competes very hard and takes pride in staying in front of his man. Obviously, he’s no Anthony Davis, but there is no doubt he can become an elite defender within his first few years in the NBA considering the athletic ability he possesses.

I know the whole world is currently enamored with Anthony Davis and his almost five blocked shots per game, but consider the one-dimensional nature of his game.

He made one field goal in the championship game. He is a stick figure that will get physically abused in the post. He’s not going to be a premiere player offensively.

Barnes has an NBA-ready body, more experience, a chip on his shoulder and the natural athletic gifts to become a 20-point a game scorer within his first three years in the league.

He’ll get snubbed by more than a few teams because of his weak performance in the tournament, but will ultimately make those teams pay.

If you want a pure scorer that can be the face of the franchise, pick Barnes. 

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