Harrison Barnes "top 10" '10 prospect

CrossCyed · 04-25-2008, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

Well. Kansas, to name one, doesn't have their own basketball practice facility - they have to practice at the small volleyball arena if Allen Fieldhouse isn't available.
This will come down to Barnes' confidence in Gmac and his program.

Yup. With every advantage we seemingly have, Harrison practicing with the team, working out with them, being here all the time....if GMac is worth his salt, he'll be here. If Harrison isn't drinking the koolaid, he gone.

Rage On · 04-25-2008, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by crash_zone

lets just leave it as it is: every ISU fan wants him, we all dread the idea of him going to EIU, and if he goes somewhere else.....we'll all wonder what if.

Is he the highest ranked player to come out of the Ames HS system?

Possibly. Check on Fred Hoiberg and Matt Bergeson. Nick Collison was from Iowa Falls, if memory serves.

Rage On · 04-25-2008, 05:38 PM

I love ISU and would be as happy as anybody to see Barnes in the Cardinal and Gold. But, I would not look at it as a negative reflection on GMac if he goes elsewhere. The guy is just such a great prospect, you can't blame him for looking around. Who knows what crazy (illegal) promises are being made to guys like him.

CrossCyed · 04-25-2008, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Rage On

I love ISU and would be as happy as anybody to see Barnes in the Cardinal and Gold. But, I would not look at it as a negative reflection on GMac if he goes elsewhere. The guy is just such a great prospect, you can't blame him for looking around. Who knows what crazy (illegal) promises are being made to guys like him.

GMac has just about every advantage in the book when it comes to Harrison. It does look bad if Harrison doesn't stay in Ames. There's very little way to spin it so that it wouldn't.

That being said, I believe we're his top choice.

Rage On · 04-25-2008, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

GMac has just about every advantage in the book when it comes to Harrison. It does look bad if Harrison doesn't stay in Ames. There's very little way to spin it so that it wouldn't.

That being said, I believe we're his top choice.

I disagree completely. GMac does not have every advantage. He has proximity. Proximity can easily work against you.

Coaches at programs like Duke, Kansas, USC, Michigan State all have advantages that GMac does not.

Barnes has the world at his feet. He can choose to go just about anywhere that he wants. If I were him, I would figure out what means the most to me and then pick the school that best provides it. Does he want the best education, the best fans, the most percs, the best coach, the most exposure, or some combination? When he can pick from just about any school, and when you can't pretend to know what is the most important thing to him, how can you possibly expect that GMac or ISU would have an advantage?

Tornado man · 04-25-2008, 06:53 PM

Harrison Barnes, if he becomes a "top ten" national recruit, will have one main thought, and only one, at the top of his mind: what coach will best develop me for success in the NBA? Every single one of us would think the same. He will compare GMac with the others based on this question.

CyinCo · 04-25-2008, 07:04 PM

I wouldn't hold it against McD either if HB went elsewhere. IMO, if GMac can't get Harrison to ISU given everything that has happened thus far, there is NOTHING that GMac or ANY coach could have done to get Harrison to ISU, outside of something illegal. The fact is, if the kid makes up his mind not to play at ISU, it probably has nothing to do with the coach.

CycloneErik · 04-25-2008, 07:49 PM

As exposure goes, K-State doesn't normally get a lot of exposure, but the TV folks showed up for Michael Beasley, just like they show up for the other heralded freshmen.

If Harrison comes here, he'll get exposure, because the TV will find him. With the success that would seem to follow, that just increases the exposure.

Plus, he becomes known as the guy that took us to the next level. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Aclone · 04-25-2008, 08:58 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.

So...why would he go to Iowa? I'm not followin' you here...

Wesley · 04-25-2008, 09:35 PM

Some great talent is coming out of Ames: Mayor, AT, Ross Marsden, HB. Not bad.

CrossCyed · 04-25-2008, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by Rage On

I disagree completely. GMac does not have every advantage. He has proximity. Proximity can easily work against you.

Coaches at programs like Duke, Kansas, USC, Michigan State all have advantages that GMac does not.

Barnes has the world at his feet. He can choose to go just about anywhere that he wants. If I were him, I would figure out what means the most to me and then pick the school that best provides it. Does he want the best education, the best fans, the most percs, the best coach, the most exposure, or some combination? When he can pick from just about any school, and when you can't pretend to know what is the most important thing to him, how can you possibly expect that GMac or ISU would have an advantage?

He's at damn near every game.

ISUonthemove · 04-26-2008, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by Wesley

Some great talent is coming out of Ames: Mayor, AT, Ross Marsden, HB. Not bad.

I'm not sure I would put AT and Marsden in with The Mayor and Barnes.

erikbj · 04-26-2008, 08:10 AM

going to ISU will not hold Barnes back, it is going to come down what coach he feels most comfortable with. Fizer was a top 5 pick, I think Tinsely was a lottery pick. If you are good in basketball it doesn't matter where you play you will be on TV and get drafted.

shildreth · 04-26-2008, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

He's at damn near every game.

He loves basketball and gets free tickets to college basketball games within 20 minutes of his home. Wouldn't you go to everyone?

d30fan · 04-26-2008, 12:50 PM

Given the circumstances, Harrison knows just about everything there is to know about ISU's program and our coaches. You can't blame Mac if he doesn't choose to stay home. Not all kids want to play close to home. The lure of LA could be overwhelming to an Iowa kid. I know I was anctious to get out of the state when I graduated, and didn't return until I had retired. In the end, Harrison is going to have many offers which provide roughly equal opportunities to achieve his goals, and it will be some wholly unanticipated intangible that determines his choice. I give us about 1 in 5, without knowing the kid or what his outlook is.