2012 NBA Draft Preview: Will Harrison Barnes Be Top Overall Pick?
Nicknamed the “Black Falcon” by ESPN, Iowa native Harrison Barnes was one of the most heralded high school basketball recruits in the country. Every major recruiting service nationally ranked him No. 1 due to his upside and explosive scoring.
With the instant success of many high school players heading to the NBA, Barnes chose to develop his talents and play for Roy Williams at the tradition-rich University of North Carolina.
Despite having the chance to leave after this year’s NCAA tournament, Barnes made the decision to stay in Chapel Hill.
This short slideshow will show you a few reasons why he is the perfect candidate to be the top pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Midrange and Scoring Improvement
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In Nov. 2010, Barnes was the first freshman in history to be named to the preseason All-American team by the Associated Press. As the season began, though, Barnes struggled while being introduced to the national stage.
After early losses to Minnesota and Vanderbilt, making four of 24 shots from the field, many pundits around the nation began to say he may not live up to his freshman hype.
Yes, his inability to score against quality opponents early showed he may not have been ready, but Tarheel fans still kept faith he would improve.
As the season continued, Barnes progressed, averaging 17 points a game on 42 percent shooting from the field. His best games during the season came against ACC opponents N.C. State, Boston College and Clemson.
During the 2011 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament, Barnes dropped 40 points to set the freshman tournament record. Though he only had 16 points in the tournament finale loss against Duke, his progress through the season showed he has huge potential on the offensive side of the ball.
If Barnes can learn to improve his three-point shooting percentage, he will be the ultimate offensive threat who can create his own shot.
Size and Strength
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Barnes is a physical specimen with a lot of room to grow.
Coming in at 6’8’’, 210 pounds, Barnes has a unique ability to slash the lane and draw contact from defenders.
In fact, many around the nation thought he was a 2-guard because he has the ability to move very quickly while attacking the basket.
When he does attack the basket, Barnes possesses great body control and can get his shot off against defenders who try to attack and shut down the lane.
In the NBA, it is essential to attack the basket against aggressive defenses to open up other shots for players.
With the development of his ballhandling skills, look for scouts to see his rare fluidity as a plus during the 2012 NBA Draft Combine.
Defense and Rebounding
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Last year, the Tarheel defense finished first in the nation in rebounds at 42 a game, and this was a testament to Barnes guarding some of the best players in the league.
Last season, Barnes averaged 5.8 rebounds a game.
Barnes can improve, but his defensive skills are up to par. ESPN Insider had this to say on Barnes' defensive skills coming out of high school:
“On defense he anticipated well in the passing lanes and he does a great job of closing out or attacking the ball handler with his hands up that helps him get many deflections.”
If Barnes can continue to get in good position, show defensive intensity and use his long arms to his advantage, he will have no problem guarding long-armed players like Paul Pierce and Kevin Durant.
Maturity
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For Barnes to come back for a second year of college basketball shows his maturity to hold out on money.
After a successful freshman campaign in Chapel Hill, NBA scouts were drooling at his upside. Roy Williams then made a pitch to Barnes persuading him to stay and develop his skills more.
On April 18, Barnes announced to the nation that he would be returning to the University of North Carolina.
Maturity means a lot at the professional level, and many NBA players still lack it. Staying another season at UNC speaks volumes of his character and work ethic to become a better basketball player.
