Harrison Barnes "top 10" '10 prospect

Steve · 04-25-2008, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by kg-cyclone

If I told you Barnes lifts weights every day with GMac's son Doug...Would that make anybody feel better about our chances?

All that tells me is that he goes to school with GMac's son. If he also went to school with say Rick Barnes's son or Bill Self's son and chose to pair up with Doug over them, then it would raise the excitement level.

jcats322 · 04-25-2008, 11:30 AM

Anyone have any links to how he did in the two tournaments mentioned above.

CarolinaCy · 04-25-2008, 11:31 AM

I think a lot of it depends on if he wants to be a big fish in a little pond, or if he wants to just blend in at a school. At ISU, he would be the most heralded prospect of all time (assuming he ends up top 10), and would be the home-town "saviour". That's a lot of pressure to put on a kid.

On the other hand, if he went to a place like KU, UNC, Duke, etc. he'd be just another 5-star Mickey D's recruit. I mean, unless the guy is the second coming of Jordan, Kobe, or Lebron, he wouldn't make the Top 5 of greatest players all-time at any of those schools.

Wherever he goes, he will face about the same level of competition and will have the same odds of reaching the NBA. If you've got the talent, it will shine through no matter where you are. I think it really depends on what sort of environment he wants to play in.

kg-cyclone · 04-25-2008, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by tim_redd

I have no inside information, but I think the success of the upcoming season will have a large effect on whether this kid comes to ISU. He'll likely decide/sign after next season and before the 2009 season. If we look like a rising program next year the odds might be more in our favor. If we look like we're still 2-3 years away from competing, we might have a tough time landing this kid.

I agree, but from what I hear Barnes just wants to go through the whole recruiting process.

cyismydog · 04-25-2008, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by kg-cyclone

I agree, but from what I hear Barnes just wants to go through the whole recruiting process.

That sounds a lot like '09 recruit Jamil Wilson. The word on him is he is a Wisconsin lock, (assuming Duke doesn't offer) but he wanted to get his teammates exposure. Harrison wants to meet the coaches, and have fun trips. Truthfully, if I was as good as Harrison, I would probably do the same thing.

(

brianhos · 04-25-2008, 11:33 AM

He will be going to Kansas. All the good Iowa players go to Kansas!

ISUonthemove · 04-25-2008, 11:36 AM

We just have to show we can compete and win in the Big XII. Every great player wants to be apart of a winning team. If I were him, and the team hasn't come close to Dancing I would probably look elsewhere.

That being said, I think we will go dancing 09-10'.

cybsball20 · 04-25-2008, 11:37 AM

I always thought UCLA would be the hardest school to turn down, in anything...

Luke3485 · 04-25-2008, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by brianhos

He will be going to Kansas. All the good Iowa players go to Kansas!

He Will go to North Carolina. All the good Iowa players go play for Roy Williams!

arganbright2 · 04-25-2008, 11:38 AM

If Barnes goes to Kansas, I will stop watching Iowa State basketball. That would be the biggest flop of recruiting ever if that kid went anywhere other than Iowa State. I was actually upset when Alex Thompson chose Iowa but I think I would have a heart attack if Barnes went somewhere else.

CyinCo · 04-25-2008, 11:38 AM

This will be a tough decision for Harrison and I'll respect whatever decision he makes. I'd rather have a kid that is very comfortable with his decision rather than have him rush into to something only later to change his mind and try to get out of a verbal or, even worse, transfer after his first year.

alaskaguy · 04-25-2008, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

What would you do if you could:

A. Come to a mediocre program in a big conference, with the likelihood of being "the man" and the possibility of being "the savior" of the program.

B. Go to a powerhouse where you would not be "the man" but would likely play in a Final Four.

There's pros and cons to both.

If the skills match the hype a top prospect can go to a powerhouse school AND be "the man."

cyismydog · 04-25-2008, 11:42 AM

How about a cybookie for how long it is until Harrison is upgraded to a 5-star? With the way he has been playing recently, I will place a pretty big bet that he will be a 5-star before September.

StLouisClone · 04-25-2008, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

What would you do if you could:

A. Come to a mediocre program in a big conference, with the likelihood of being "the man" and the possibility of being "the savior" of the program.

B. Go to a powerhouse where you would not be "the man" but would likely play in a Final Four.

There's pros and cons to both.

Even if you go to a powerhouse school, there's probably no better than a 50/50 chance your team will ever play in the Final Four. Duke is certainly a powerhouse and they haven't made the Final Four since 2003-04. That's four straight seasons with no Final Four.

Kansas went 20 years without winning a NC. Heck, Iowa State had just about as good a shot to win a NC during that stretch as Kansas did.

cycloneryan · 04-25-2008, 12:27 PM

I wonder if Mac feels extra pressure to get this kid. He is known for bringing in talented in-state recruits, but he has never went after on this high on recruiting lists. If he losses out on this kid in his own back yard that may raise some questions about his ability to recruit.