The Most Important Recruit in the History of Duke Basketball

According to information provided by the Ames Community School District web site, Ames High School in Ames, IA sits on a 74 acre campus which includes a 20-acre natural prairie reserve.

Thanks to one Ames High student, elite coaches such as Bill Self, Mike Krzyzewski, and Roy Williams have undoubtedly had the opportunity to tour that beautiful reserve.

According to information provided by the Ames Community School District web site, Ames High School has a graduation rate of 93 percent. Thanks to the efforts of one Ames High Student, the 2010 graduation date will be very important to the loyal and lucky basketball fans of one yet to be chosen NCAA school.

According to information provided by the Ames Community School District web site, 71 percent of graduating Ames High seniors enroll in four-year colleges and universities.

In 2010, a 6'6" 200lb Ames High graduating senior with a deadly mid-range jump shot and a step-back fall away jump shot that has been labeled by ESPN as "Kobe-esque" will not only choose a school, he will choose how college basketball fans across America view one of the most successful college basketball programs in NCAA history.

That graduating Ames High senior is Harrison Barnes and the reputation of Duke Basketball will be significantly altered based on his decision.

Any college basketball fan is familiar with the success of Duke under the direction of Hall of fame coach Mike Krzyzewski. Three national championships, 10 final fours, 18 sweet 16 appearances, 22 conference titles, and a NCAA record 71 NCAA tourney wins.

Due to the perception that Duke's successes have taken place largely in days gone by, it is important to note that Duke has won eight out of the last 11 ACC conference titles and have appeared in 10 of the last 12 NCAA sweet 16s.

Despite this overwhelming record of success, there has been growing speculation that the Duke basketball program in no longer one of college basketball's elite. Duke detractors most often reference recent recruiting misses as evidence of Coach K's diminished cache.

The names are surely familiar by now: Patrick Patterson, Greg Monroe, Kenny Boynton, John Wall. All highly regarded recruits whom chose to showcase their skills at places other than Durham.

Although it could be suggested that after ample doses of NIT exposure Mr. Patterson and Mr. Monroe may be wishing for the proverbial "do-over" in their decisions, the fact remains that in these cases, Mighty K did see talent...swung...and struck out.

In the aftermath of these decisions, Duke's recruiting philosophy of building relationships and offering fewer scholarships has come under fire. It has also been speculated that Duke cannot attract top level, uber-athletic players anymore. Which brings us to what may be the most important recruit in the history of Duke Basketball.

Harrison Barnes is truly a top level talent. Currently ranked as the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2010 by Rivals and the top overall recruit by both Scout and ESPN, Barnes projects as a program changing recruit that projects to a top pick in the NBA draft at some point in his career. This is not the reason that Duke desperately needs to land him.

Duke already has assembled a stellar class for 2010 with Andre Dawkins, Joshua Hairston, Tyler Thornton and transfer Seth Curry already having committed. While Barnes would be the jewel of this class and vault Duke to the top of most class rankings, this is not the reason that Duke covets his signature.

The reason that Harrison Barnes is the most important recruit in the history of Duke Basketball is that he has been recruited the way that all Duke stars to date have been recruited, slowly and methodically.

Barnes was identified as a Duke target two years ago and has since developed a relationship with Coach K and the Duke coaching staff.

K and his coaches have been to Ames several times to visit with Barnes and according to the Duke Basketball twitter page, Harrison will be taking his third visit to Durham in the very near future.

This is the formula that Duke has developed for landing talent from coast to coast for the past 20 years. Recruit one star player at a needed position and develop as strong a relationship as possible with that recruit. 

Yes, Barnes lives in the heart of Big 12 country and lists Kansas as one of his favorites. However, Coach K is betting one more time that a relationship with a person can be so much stronger than an attachment to a place.

A commitment from Barnes will serve as evidence that the Duke way of developing relationships rather than simply recruiting can still work at the highest level with the greatest talents.

If Barnes commits to Kansas, Minnesota or any other school, it will be referenced by many as further proof that Duke is no longer Duke in recruiting circles no matter their continued accumulation of McDonald's All-Americans or their continued success on the floor.

According to information provided by a Bleacher Report article, less than one percent of seniors graduating from Ames High in 2010 will have the power to alter the reputation of the most successful college basketball program of the last 20 years. Choose wisely, Harrison.

Look at it this way, no matter where you choose to play, you're sure to make history for Duke.