Harrison Barnes clears up Duke/UNC rumors
Words. Harrison Barnes
Ames High (Iowa) star Harrison Barnes sent us this press release — before any other media outlet — to clear up any discrepancies from last week’s perceived swoop-in by North Carolina coach Roy Williams:
Earlier this week, BusterSports.com (Raleigh, N.C.) reported about my in-home visits. My family and I felt that hosting prospective schools in our home was personal and private; therefore our in-home visit schedule was not available to the public.
Well, we had to be flexible. Iowa State had a contact on the night of UNC’s visit; Oklahoma conducted their in-home visit the same day as UCLA’s contact.
Although Buster’s Dave Odom acknowledges that most of what he reported was unsubstantiated, he went on to state what he knew was “true” in his report. Odom stated, “Mike Krzyzewski, during the recruitment of Harrison Barnes, had asked he and his family, and the high school coach let me have the last home visit.”
I would like to shed light on this process, since there is now speculation that Coach K’s request to my family was not upheld. I take my recruiting and the process in which I’ve established in selecting a school very serious, so when I hear a statement that is not factual and has no merit then it’s time to address it.
During the scheduling of my in-home visits at no point did Coach K say to my family and I that he wanted the “last” home visit, or did I say to him or his staff that I want you to have the “last” home visit. I have unofficially visited Coach K and Duke University on three occasions, so the “last” in-home visit was not going to make or break the relationship we’ve established.
Initially, coach Roy Williams, UNC, requested their in-home visit date with a return visit on October 5 since it was likely that I would have open gym that night. I notified UNC that we were not allowing additional in-home visits, so we agreed that they would have a contact on that date for approximately twenty minutes at my high school gym.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski requested the first in-home visit date, which we both agreed. As we were confirming the visit they also wanted an additional date, which was October 5. Once we started to go through the schedule it made more sense for us to have Duke conduct their in-home closer to their official visit date than to come in on September 9, their original request. Coach K wanted to see me on the first day of the contact period so we had a contact at my high school on that day.
During the contact period, September 9 – October 5, 2009, Duke used all three of their contact visits, while UNC used two contacts and one evaluation visit.
I didn’t have school on Monday, October 5; therefore open gym was Tuesday night, October 6. I could have easily met UNC at Ames High for a brief meeting, but since I had a few additional questions for Coach Williams I invited them back into my home. End of story.
Sometimes tea leaves are just tea leaves.
We Duke and Carolina fans can sure work ourselves into a frenzy over the most innocuous things. Get used to it, Harrison, if you wind up on Tobacco Road.
Hopefully the comments posted here are from college kids. Otherwise I’d have to say that a lot of adults from all the different schools are in need of some therapy. I’m really amazed at all the various tactics, subtle and not so, that are being displayed here. Grow up. Try detaching your egos from the success of your favorite college teams.
This kid is a good student, will provide plenty of entertainment as a athlete, and hopefully will have a successful and profitable career in the pros.
Good read. HB, you would look money in Duke blue! You, KI, Smith, Dawkins, Curry, Kelly, Tyler, Josh, Plumlees….that has National Title written all over it!
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This adds clarity to where Barnes is going.
As a UNC alumni I would love to get this kid and I’d hate to lose him to Duke. But this kid has got his stuff together. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 17-18 year old this professional in a recruiting process. I guess that why Calipari isn’t in on him.
I am a Dukie of several decades. This is an impressive young man. Hope he chooses Duke so I can root for him with all my heart. He is a quality kid. GOOD JOB Mom and Dad!!!! He may stay two years but then it will get to risky not to get paid. I could see him go back and finish his BA in ECON
I’m a UNC fan so its not a secret what choice I hope he makes. Whatever decision he makes it sounds like this young man is a quality individual. His parent should be very proud of him. Good luck to you Harrison, where ever you go!
I suggest you go to ISU or Wisconsin and get an education, too. These nicotine junkies in the southeast are just that, junkies.
ISU will pummel Duke this year, too.
Did you read over what you have written. You sound like a moron of the nth degree.
When has ISU been relevant in anything?
ISU and the whole Big 10 conference are not a real part of the NCAA basketball landscape. No one goes to any of those schools because it’s cold, lonley, and liberal! Can you blame them for wanting to be “junkies”???
That would be the Big 12 Dufuss and it is one, if not the toughest conference in the country!!
Hahahahaha Big 12 the toughest. That’s a good one. Come and play in the ACC. You’ll leave in tears.
vince – that potential duke lineup won’t even win the acc conference (even with harrison barnes.)
harrison – if u don’t want to have your game developed at all then go to duke. they are famous for not developing talent. you leave duke with what you came with. duke easily has the worst assistant coaching staff in major division 1 basketball.
Brian- Vince was just stating the underclassmen (besides miles) that would possibly be on the team. Add those kids along with Nolan, and Singler you would have to be to have the most bias against duke to say that that team would not have national Champ potential.
Beyond any of the basketball or recruiting issues, can we all stop and appreciate one of the rarest sights in sport, an intelligent athlete who takes his education seriously. This kid has like a 4.0 GPA, AP classes, etc and he writes his own press release that is of a higher quality than most issues by actual press agencies. He seems to really have a good head on his shoulders and of course there’s mad respect for his mama who obviously did something right. As he is such a smart kid, Duke and UNC seem like appropriate finalists as both are top basketball teams and academic institutions. I hope he ends up at Duke, and I think he will, but I think we should get Duke-alum Reggie Love to set him up with an Obama meeting to really seal the commitment.
Obama likes UNC. remember the past two years…
@ Justin
Well get ready to lose him because it’s obvious why he chose to write this little blurb. At Duke, Harrison will also learn not to write in run-on sentences.
Is it true Harrisons mom made his middle name Jordan after MJ? If that is so, I bet I know where she would like him to go. GO HEELS!
I’m glad he cleared things up. UNC fans have been all over the visit with Roy Williams on the same night as Duke’s in home visit. Come to Duke Harrison.
Reggie Love maybe can get him to meet with President Obama but come to UNC and get a chance to play with him. He is a great quality kid… I see why both schools would love to have him.
Harrison I know if you’ve been to UNC then your mind has to be made up. There is so much tradition here. We all think you can make a impact on this community and our beloved Tarheel team. Coach Williams has and will always put his players first. Please come to Carolina so we can one day see you on highlight films in the Carolina museum. Go Heels Go!!!
[...] 1. “H” has a few things he wants to clear up. [...]
HB: You have your act together.
I applaud you.
As a jayhawk fan I appreciate you giving Jayhawk nation your consideration. Like all schools we have some special benefits to offer you. We are not only close to Iowa but also have our share of BB tradition. The perfect place for you is where you make it, yet you are aware of that already.
Your recruiting actions have been full of class and that is why so many of us will be pleased for your future success wherever that may lead, (excpetion Missouri)’just teasing’.
Best wishes and thanks for demonstrating a model for others. We will be rooting for you wherever you next call home.
Rock Chalk.
Harrison, Duke is the place for you. You will be surrounded by quality players and people. Duke’s players success in the NBA has actually surpassed UNC in recent years. Give Coach K and Roy equal talent and Coach K will win every time. He will go down as the greatest coach in NCAA history. UNC tries to match Duke in class, but it’s hard to live down the recruitment of Rasheed Wallace type players. Duke wouldn’t take a look at bad character kids like that. UNC is a good school, but a degree from Duke carries a lot more weight. Good luck wherever you choose, but Cameron’s homecourt atmosphere is unmatched. Be surrounded by thousands of Cameron Crazies when you play instead of 60 yr old men and women sitting on their hands all night. Go Devils!!!
Amen to that Tom!
Degree..?? Do you honestly think he’ll stick around for a degree…better yet…do you think he will NEED a degree for his post-eligibility years?
Good call Doug. This kid will be one and done no matter where he goes!!
Everything about that statement is crap. I cannot believe you would infer that UNC recruits bad character kids, you must be a racist rich white male. Plus if you knew anything about Harrison Barnes you would know he wants to go into Business, little hard to major is business without an undergraduate degree in business from Duke huh? Statements about Cameron Crazies always get me going too, while yes they are crazy as hell and are a force when it comes to winning basketball games, most just do it to be on TV and know nothing about college basketball or the traditions of Duke Basketball.
Harrison, Duke is the best choice. Yeah, back in the day MJ was hot but today he is a GM and not a good one if I may add. Coach k is the face of American basketball today and thats the bottom line. Getting a chance to play for K is a dream come true for any kid that plays basketball. I want you at Duke because your a quality kid and not just a hoops star. Duke is the school where kids come to be students first and hey while they are there lets play some basketball for the greatest coach in any sport!
And keeping it real, Roy has been very lucky over the last 5 years. In 05 unc wasnt even the best team in the state of North Carolina and they lucked out getting the easiest region. And two years ago all four number one seeds made it to the final four. UNC was by far the worst team there but was the only school of the four not to lose their entire team to the NBA. If they were good, they too would have lost players to the draft. He has also benefited from K being away for the last 4 years helping america get back to basketball dominance after being completley dominated in 04 by the Larry Brown Roy Williams led bronze medal team. So Harrison, your a smart kid choose skill and great coaching over luck cause luck will soon run out!
1. this is probably the most illogical statement i’ve ever heard. as a fan of basketball, to say a team is only good because of nba talent is ridiculous; if a coach won a tournament without nba talent that would make a better coach actually.
2. roy williams had top 5 recruiting classes (ahead of duke) the last 3 years.
3. unc lost 4 players to the nba this past year.
4. i’ll never disrespect coach k as a coach, but roy williams is every bit as good of coach.
You gotta love all the excuses Duke fans seem to find when there team is down. They still think they are the center of the basketball universe. As far as the draft, Tyler came back to win it all and he did. 4-0 at Hansborough Indoor
Stadium. Lawson is now a Super Sub in Denver. How’s Henderson(Thuggerson) doing??
Stay at home and become a Cyclone! Your already a legend in Ames, and think about how far you could take this program!
Harrison don’t be fooled by the Duke hype. I am on their campus eveyday and believe me they are so envious of UNC’s success.Since the arrival of Roy williams the nation’s greatest program is back. And as far as NBA players go Duke cannot compare with the notable exeptions of Grant Hill and Elton Brand.
Do you REALLY wanna become a role player being that you’re a star on your team now? With Curry and Singler by your side, you definitely wont get the shine you want. Then you have another star guard in Kyrie that will shine being that he will maintain the rock when in the game. Yea Carolina has a squad, but when one’s hot/the best player….that’s who they go to in clutch moments. Duke would settle for running a play and take the chance of the average player on the court taking the last shot or taking over a game. Both teams play team ball, but one takes away from the “hot hand” at times during the game. One focuses on defense while the other on offense, which makes it easier for Carolina players that are good to get drafted because they score so much. Think about the better option for you! This coming from an NC State fan. Of course I dont like either team being that we’re rivals, BUT I do feel that UNC would be the better fit for you.
and one other piece of advice to consider….UNC’s undergraduate program ranks 12th in the nation!
Gee thats funny. Duke is the tenth best school in the nation. You really swayed him with that one…
Come to Duke Harrison!! lead us back to a national championship!!!!
Durham is a complete shithole and simply is not a fun place, Duke is the definition of an ivory tower in Durham. In addition to working hard, college is also a time to enjoy the best years of your life, and in that regard I honestly do not know anyone who would prefer to be in Durham as opposed to Chapel Hill if they could choose. Chapel Hill is a well integrated community, extending beyond the school permeating into the entire town, you will feel at home as a Tarheel everywhere you go.
He should come to Duke. With all the talent that’s coming in and with him on the team as well it’s a definite national championship team. Plus, if he is serious about education, Duke’s education is better than any other university that does at least decent in basketball. He would love duke!
Sorry but Duke’s team doesn’t even come close to UNC in terms of the talent that is coming in or currently present. He would fit perfectly in Roy’s uptempo offense, with UNC’s absolutely loaded frontcourt and a guy like Reggie Bullock on the wing, there is a nice spot for Harrison on the other wing, if he cares about winning a national championship there is no better place.
Being and Iowan, and speaking with Harrison on a few occasions, I can tell you that no matter what he decides it will be the best for his future. His mother and advisors know him well and HB has set goals in place for not only his basketball career but also his professional career in the business world. No matter what he decides I hope all that are involved and stand to applaud this young man for being more than just an athlete – and being a role model for young kids around the country.
Why so much hype for this kid? Sounds like Luol Deng 2.0, nice person, nice player, NOT going to win you a title. I’m guessing he goes to one of these power teams just to blend in, not stand out, a la Brandon Rush.
Personally, I hope he goes to ISU since the state of Iowa doesn’t have much going for it. But if it came down to UNC/Duke, they’re both great basketball programs with good coaches who are excellent at preparing their players for the next level… but Durham is one of the dirtiest towns in NC. Believe me, I’ve lived here my whole life, you don’t want to be caught in Durham after dark.
Although I’m a KU fan, I really want to see Harrison ink with Iowa State. It would be great for Cyclone basketball and humiliating to all those greedy Duke, UNC and Kansas fans that are assuming he’ll sign with their program. Plus… it would keep him in the BIG 12.
With the large number of grammatical errors in the few press releases he has written, I don’t believe he is a legitimate candidate to be a Duke student, unless they have young ladies assigned to write his English papers for him, like they did for other star athletes back in the day. UNC may well be a better choice, judging from some of these letters.
I just jumped onto this site today. Obviously Barnes chose NC, which was the best decision for him. Being a Tarheel Fan, I couldn’t be more excited. The post of the Puke fans makes me laugh
and just the general mentality of the “typical puke fan.” The only question to ask now is?? Which
Puke player will “flop” as Barnes posterizes him?
I respect Coach K and what he has done for basketball but that’s about it!
With you Harrison Barnes on my team we don’t need another recruit. Heck I’ll even drop some of my current players for ya HB. Did you hear we were co-national champions of the NIT tournament last year? this is only the beginning son.
Come and be a part of a winning tradition. We got women, we got food, and of course you’ve got… me! – Ro Will.I.am.z”