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FROSH PROFILE: HARRISON BARNES

Rob Harrington
robharrington@prepstars.com
January 24, 2011

In our continuing checkup on this year’s college freshmen, we’ll take a look at the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2010: Harrison Barnes. Unlike the previous players we’ve covered, Barnes’ struggles as a freshman have been very highly publicized.

Not only is the top player in the class expected to generate big numbers because he’s the best of the best in the class — and in recent seasons that designation has predicted huge freshman campaigns — expectations of Barnes skyrocketed due to the fact that he became the first freshman ever selected as a preseason first-team All-American.

But the Iowa native has had problems at North Carolina, averaging a respectable 11.8 points per game (second-most on the team) but shooting only 37 percent from the field. He has particularly struggled with his shot selection, leading to a woeful 31 percent from the three-point line. Moreover, Barnes has appeared a step slower and less explosive than the scouting community remembers from his high school days, generating all sorts of speculation about possible stamina issues.

On the other hand, Barnes has made steady, if slow, improvement. He’s beginning to take better shots and is averaging more than five rebounds per game, a solid number for a wing player.

Perhaps the bottom line is that, even in today’s era of immediate gratification — and Jared Sullinger, Terrence Jones and Kyrie Irving (pre-injury) certainly have reinforced the idea that freshmen can dominate — some players will need time to adjust to the college level, just like the bygone era.