Words. Harrison Barnes

While navigating through the hectic recruiting process, HighSchoolHoop’s top-rated player, Ames High (IA) swingman Harrison Barnes, agreed to chronicle his thoughts for us during each of his five official visits. First was North Carolina, followed by Oklahoma, Kansas and Duke. Now Barnes reflects on his last official visit to UCLA last weekend…

First, I would like to say that the UCLA trip was outstanding! When I visited there unofficially this summer, I got a chance to tour the athletic facilities, meet with academic advisors and attend a class, so we didn’t focus on that for this trip. MORE >

Words. Harrison Barnes

As he navigates through the hectic recruiting process, HighSchoolHoop’s top-rated player, Ames High (IA) swingman Harrison Barnes has agreed to chronicle his thoughts for us during each of his five official visits. First was North Carolina; now Barnes shares his experiences from his official visit to Oklahoma the weekend of Oct. 3…

I thought that, overall, the visit went extremely well. When we first got there it was really late because our flights got delayed. My family and I, Doron Lamb and Coach (Jeff) Capel and his staff all flew in to Oklahoma City. We got in at about midnight and we didn’t get situated and get to sleep in Norman, Okla., until about 2 a.m. MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Ames High (IA) star Harrison Barnes, HighSchoolHoop’s top-rated player, confirmed to us that he has trimmed his list of schools from 12 to just six.

Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, UCLA and Iowa State all made the cut, while Florida, Stanford, Minnesota, Kentucky, Southern Cal and TCU all got the boot. MORE >

Words. dimemag

The Class of 2011′s Rakeem Christmas has had a long summer of outstanding performances at some of the most coveted basketball events. With the AAU basketball season drawing to a close, one of the nation’s best defensive players has garnered attention participating in the NBA Players Top 100 Camp, as well as the Amar’e Stoudemire and LeBron James Skill Academies. Before wrapping up his summer events next week at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game at Rucker Park, the rising junior and his family decided on the schools he plans on looking closely at for options of attendance in 2011. MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Story from Dime Magazine #50

Every top college basketball program wants Ray McCallum Jr. to be their point guard of the future. Now Ray has to decide what comes first – hoop dreams or family.

Ray McCallum Jr. knows that, coming from a likely lock for the 2010 McDonald’s All-American game, this will come across as disingenuous and rehearsed and, for lack of a better phrase, a bunch of hogwash.

He can sense the immediate eye roll reaction when he says that he’s, “REALLY looking at staying home and playing for Detroit Mercy.” Really?

So no Kansas, Duke, Florida, Michigan State, Oklahoma, UCLA or Arizona? MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Photo. BlueDevilNation

Of the talented players participating in the World Basketball Tournament in Douai, France, which runs from June 8-15, Jason Morris just may be the most athletic.

Injuries plagued his season at Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., but after a strong showing at the King James Shooting Stars Classic in late April, which his New York Gauchos won, Morris, a rising senior, seems primed for a breakout summer season. MORE >