SI.com - Harrison

**isuarch80** · 07-13-2009, 01:25 PM

Good and bad write up for Harrison... but constructive criticism is all.

Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger*among top high school recruits - Seth Davis - SI.com

Harrison Barnes, 6-6, 206, Ames, Iowa: Allow me to damn Barnes with faint praise. For someone who is widely recognized as one of the top three players in his class, he's a little underwhelming. He's not a freak athlete by any measure, and he certainly does not strike me as a candidate to be one-and-done. That said, I can see why so many schools (Duke and Kansas are among the leaders) are coveting him so zealously. He's extremely smooth and efficient, and for a player with his size and athleticism, he is an amazing long-range shooter. Barnes tends to settle for the outside shot a little too much, but when he does decide to attack the rim, he is very effective. He's also a highly skilled interior passer. He has drawn comparisons to Shane Battier, but I'd say he's a little flashier (and a much better scorer) than Battier was at this stage. In conversation, Barnes comes across as very serious and intelligent. It's quite obvious he will be an asset to any college campus, and not just on the basketball court.

**ajk4st8** · 07-13-2009, 01:35 PM

That might be the best recap on HBs skills I have seen yet. I completely agree with everything there.

He might be the most underwhelming 1st or 2nd ranked recruit I have seen. With that said, having him on your team is a huge get. Especially if he is NOT one and done.

**Tornado man** · 07-13-2009, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by isuarch80

Harrison Barnes, 6-6, 206, Ames, Iowa: For someone who is widely recognized as one of the top three players in his class, he's a little underwhelming. He's not a freak athlete by any measure

Davis lost me here - HB "not a freak athlete?" Uh, OK...
Sounds to me like another writer/broadcaster (who's a non-athlete) suspicious of Iowa producing a talent like HB.

**ajk4st8** · 07-13-2009, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

Davis lost me here - HB "not a freak athlete?" Uh, OK...
Sounds to me like another writer/broadcaster (who's a non-athlete) suspicious of Iowa producing a talent like HB.

He does appear to lack an amazing burst of quickness, but I could be wrong. Lebron and Kobe are 'freak althletes'. HB just seems a tad slower. Maybe I havent seen him play enough tho.

**Cloned4Life** · 07-13-2009, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

He does appear to lack an amazing burst of quickness, but I could be wrong. Lebron and Kobe are 'freak althletes'. HB just seems a tad slower. Maybe I havent seen him play enough tho.

He may not be a freak athlete on the level of Kobe and Lebron but at his age he's about as athletic as they come.

IMO, he's extremely quick and some of that goes unnoticed because he's so smooth.

**Tornado man** · 07-13-2009, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

He does appear to lack an amazing burst of quickness, but I could be wrong. Lebron and Kobe are 'freak althletes'. HB just seems a tad slower. Maybe I havent seen him play enough tho.

Yes, you would be amazed. HB doesn't like to show off, but he put on quite a show in the Ames High gym a couple of weeks ago.
Now, if there are just two "freak athletes" - Kobe and Lebron - then HB has a ways to go.
I just laugh at a geek who majored in Pol Sci from Duke - Seth Davis - judging someone's athletic ability.

**goldmember** · 07-13-2009, 02:36 PM

I think the fact he makes things look so effortless, maybe the reason why some are not overwhelmed with his abilities, as crazy as that sounds.

**Clones85'** · 07-13-2009, 02:38 PM

He can definitely jump. I think his first step is above average but not elite by any means. And he needs to control his body better when he is in the air. Other than that, he is unreal!

**brianhos** · 07-13-2009, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

Davis lost me here - HB "not a freak athlete?" Uh, OK...
Sounds to me like another writer/broadcaster (who's a non-athlete) suspicious of Iowa producing a talent like HB.

He is not a freak athlete, he is very good, but he is not one and done athletic yet. He is not big enough to be a lottery pick after his freshman year of college.

**runningcy** · 07-13-2009, 02:45 PM

He could be the best thing that that has happened to ISU basketball in a long time!!

**kg-cyclone** · 07-13-2009, 02:48 PM

He's an athlete, not a freak athlete....His skill set is what separates him from the pack.

**swarthmoreCY** · 07-13-2009, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by brianhos

He is not big enough to be a lottery pick after his freshman year of college.

He is a small forward (maybe off-guard) at 6-8 210+, and yet to be a senior in high school. I think you are giving NBA scouts/GM's too much credit.

**cyeah** · 07-13-2009, 02:52 PM

That read like a hawk fan - we didn't want him anyway post rather than true analysis.

**Clones85'** · 07-13-2009, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by brianhos

He is not a freak athlete, he is very good, but he is not one and done athletic yet. He is not big enough to be a lottery pick after his freshman year of college.

Your very negative anytime there is any mention of HB. Anyways college coachs and NBA scouts disagree. In fact NBAdraft website has him as the #1 pick in two years.

**crzy4st** · 07-13-2009, 02:55 PM

"Barnes tends to settle for the outside shot a little too much", maybe that's because he considers himself a guard and likes to shoot from the outside. Just because you are 6'8" doesn't mean you have to play inside and post up.