Fantasy College Basketball: Harrison Barnes and the Top Five Players in the ACC

With the NBA lockout looming, it is time for basketball fans to seriously consider participating in fantasy college basketball.

The ACC offers plenty of potential draftees, including North Carolina's sophomore sensation Harrison Barnes and Duke's diaper dandy, Austin Rivers. They can both score with ruthless efficiency, and rack up plenty of other fantasy stats.

Who else, though, is amongst the top five fantasy players in the ACC?

Continue reading to find out!

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes surprised many by returning to school for his sophomore season instead of declaring for the NBA Draft. He will be back on campus at Chapel Hill, and he will undoubtedly have another great season.

Barnes is a diverse fantasy player, capable of putting up big numbers in both the scoring and rebounding categories. He also connected on nearly two three-pointers per game last season, which would make fantasy owners smile.

One thing Barnes needs to work on is raising his overall shooting percentage. In the 2010-11 season, he shot just 42.3 percent from the floor. If he can bring that number closer to 48 percent, he will be an extremely complete fantasy player.

2010-11 Key Stats: 15.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 67 Three-Pointers Made

John Henson, North Carolina

John Henson, another member of the North Carolina Tar Heels, is poised to have an outstanding season. He is the favorite to lead the ACC in rebounding this upcoming season, and is the closest thing to an automatic double-double that the conference has to offer.

Combine Henson's rebounding ability with his defensive prowess, and he would be a highly sought player in fantasy college basketball. His shooting percentage should also soar this season given his highly-talented teammates.

The only negative aspect of Henson's stats for fantasy would be his free-throw shooting percentage. Last season, he shot a measly 47.9 percent from the charity stripe. That alone could cost his team a loss in the free-throw shooting category.

2010-11 Key Stats: 11.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.2 BPG, 50.0% FG

Travis McKie, Wake Forest

While Travis McKie is not a name known across the nation just yet, it very well could be come this season. The rising sophomore put together a strong season for the not-so-strong Demon Deacons, who finished 1-15 in the ACC last season.

The beauty of fantasy basketball, however, is that team success is almost entirely irrelevant. As long as McKie puts up good numbers, fantasy owners will not care about Wake Forest losing by 35 to Duke.

McKie will play big minutes this season, so big numbers will follow.

2010-11 Key Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 BPG, 49.7% FG

Malcolm Grant, Miami

Malcolm Grant will finish up his career at Miami this season, and he will look to build off of a strong 2010-11 campaign. He is an elite scorer, shoots three-pointers in quantity and can rack up assists.

Grant led the ACC in three-pointers made last season, and could easily repeat that this year. While his shooting is very efficient from beyond the three-point arc, he struggles elsewhere from the field. That is just one chink in his armor, and he makes up for it with stellar free-throw shooting.

Combined with Durand Scott, Grant will help Miami to a great season. That is, if they don't have to face consequences amidst the Nevin Shapiro scandal, which is yet to be known.

2010-11 Key Stats: 14.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 94 Three-Pointers Made

Austin Rivers, Duke

Austin Rivers is the most coveted recruit that Coach K has landed in years, and that is no small accomplishment when you consider the talent Duke has consistently had.

Rivers, the best offensive freshman in the nation, will make immediate contributions for the Blue Devils. He has already shown in exhibitions against the Chinese national team that he can score against top-notch competition.

Three-point shooting comes naturally to Rivers, as does scoring in general. He will be amongst the ACC's leaders in scoring as a freshman, and his first year on campus could easily be his last. So fantasy owners: grab him while you can!

2010-11 Key Stats (Winter Park High School): 28.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 86 Three-Pointers Made

Other Players to Watch

Kendal Marshall, North Carolina

Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

Durand Scott, Miami

Reggie Johnson, Miami

Glen Rice, Jr., Georgia Tech

Mason Plumlee, Duke

Andre Young, Clemson

Bernard James, Florida State

C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State

Dorenzo Hudson, Virginia Tech