Recruits boost Triangle basketball powers

Duke will be a favorite next season to return to the Final Four - and perhaps win back-to-back national titles. North Carolina, after a stunning regular-season free fall that ended in the NIT, should be back in the Associated Press top 25. N.C. State will be expected to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006.

It's all thanks, in big part, to 10 incoming recruits.

"Fans at all three schools do have something to be excited about - at the same time," All-Star Sports recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons said.

Word of God phenom C.J. Leslie's decision on Wednesday to stay home and play for the Wolfpack solidifies N.C. State's class as one of the top two in the ACC, Gibbons said - right beside UNC, which has the top-rated incoming player in Harrison Barnes. And while Duke's class might not rank quite as high as its two Triangle rivals, the Blue Devils appear to have snagged exactly the piece they needed to make another deep postseason run: speedy point guard Kyrie Irving.

A breakdown of each team:

DUKE

Kyrie Irving 6-1, 165, PG, Elizabeth, N.J.

Potential impact: Irving will be Duke's first true point guard since Chris Duhon and is expected to be the Blue Devils' most dynamic backcourt scorer since Jason Williams. Irving also is a competent setup man, and his skills are likely to spark a transformation for Duke from the bruising, halfcourt team that won the 2010 NCAA title back to the high-pressure, run-and-gun teams that brought coach Mike Krzyzewski success early in his career. Irving brings pure speed, and the only question is how well he will adjust to playing defense at the college level.

Where he fits: With Jon Scheyer's career over, Irving fits perfectly into Duke's starting backcourt. Nolan Smith, who will be Irving's partner in the backcourt, is a solid on-ball defender but benefits on offense when he doesn't have to bring the ball up the court. Smith will allow Irving to match up defensively against a lesser opposing scorer, and Irving will get Smith the ball in positions where he can create and score. Handling the pressure of playing for Krzyzewski might be a bigger challenge than any of the pressure Irving faces from opponents on the court.

Carrick Felix 6-6, 195, SF, Phoenix, Ariz.

Potential impact: Felix, who averaged 14.8 points per game this season for the College of Southern Idaho, is the first junior college player Krzyzewski has taken at Duke. Because of an injury his freshman season, Felix has three seasons of eligibility remaining, and his character and athletic ability impressed the Duke staff enough to earn him a scholarship offer. It remains to be seen whether he can score in a halfcourt offense on the Division I level, but he should be able to run and finish on the fast break and will provide Duke with another player who can defend at small forward in addition to Kyle Singler.

Where he fits: It's likely that no player will be affected more by rising senior Kyle Singler's return for his senior season than Felix. With Singler back, Felix probably will be relegated to spot duty in his first season with the opportunity for more playing time when he's a junior.

Josh Hairston 6-8, 225, PF, Rockville, Md.

Potential impact: Hairston is a big guy with the ability to bang and score in the low post who also is capable of moving away from the basket and sinking 15- to 17-foot shots. There are times, though, when he drifts out to the perimeter too often, and there's some question about whether his jump shot is a bit too flat. He has been compared with departing senior Lance Thomas, but they're more different than similar. Thomas is a much more accomplished defensive player, especially on the perimeter. Hairston is a more polished performer on offense than Thomas was at a comparable stage of development.

Where he fits: Duke's starting positions in the post are filled. If the Blue Devils play big, Mason and Miles Plumlee will start. If they play small, one of the Plumlees will start at center while Kyle Singler plays power forward. Either way, that means Hairston will initially be relegated to a reserve role as a freshman, and he will have to battle sophomore Ryan Kelly - who was a McDonald's All-American - for minutes.

Tyler Thornton 6-2, 180, PG, Washington, D.C.

Potential impact: Thornton committed early to Duke in September of his junior season along with Hairston, and it will be interesting to see how that decision works out for the player and the team. Thornton is a strong floor leader who's known for playing stifling defense on the point. But Thornton's skills on offense appear limited, and he's clearly the second-best player in Duke's class at his position behind Kyrie Irving.

Where he fits: Duke has a lot of talent in the backcourt with Smith, Irving, Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry all likely to be ahead of Thornton in the rotation when he is a freshman. But Krzyzewski admires players who are fierce defenders and stick with the program for four seasons.

N.C. STATE

Lorenzo Brown SG, 6-4, 175, Roswell, Ga.

Potential impact: Brown could have helped N.C. State this season, but he failed to qualify academically for his scholarship out of high school and spent a season at Hargrave Military Academy. There he was perhaps the top post-graduate or prep school player in the nation, succeeding both as a shooter and a playmaker. Brown could be a big scorer, but he still may need to qualify for that scholarship.

Where he fits: C.J. Williams and Scott Wood will be Brown's primary competition for playing time. Although Brown might not be as polished defensively as Williams and isn't as good a pure shooter as Wood, he's more talented and versatile than either of them, so there's a good chance Brown would go directly into the starting lineup. He should be an excellent finisher on the fast break if the suddenly more talented N.C. State team tries to play a faster pace.

Ryan Harrow PG 5-11, 155, Marietta, Ga.

Potential impact: Nobody on the summer basketball circuit in 2009 was more exciting than Harrow. He's a captivating ballhandler with impressive speed and acrobatic moves in the lane who also can score from 3-point range. He's more of a scorer than a distributor, and there's a question whether he's physically big or strong enough to score on drives against ACC competition. The bigger question is whether his body can stand up to the rigors of a full season of college basketball, because opponents are certain to pound his slim frame every chance they get. If he can stand up to that physical test, he could be one of the most captivating point guards N.C. State has ever had.

Where he fits: N.C. State has a senior returning starter at point guard in Javier Gonzalez who can't be counted out. Coach Sidney Lowe admires Gonzalez's determination and fighter's mentality, and Gonzalez occasionally had huge games last season for the Wolfpack. But Harrow is a more skilled player, and his leadership ability is not to be underestimated. He committed to N.C. State in June before his junior year and spent a lot of time lobbying C.J. Leslie to join him in committing to N.C. State. Harrow's irrepressible personality will make it difficult for Lowe to keep him on the bench even with a senior in place at point guard.

C.J. Leslie 6-8, 185, Raleigh

Potential impact: Merely holding off Kentucky and Connecticut to sign a player of Leslie's caliber was a coup for Lowe, who has added N.C. State's most highly regarded recruit since Julius Hodge in 2001. Leslie, a McDonald's All-American, might be the most versatile talent in his class in the entire nation. He is big enough to block shots and control the boards as a power forward, but handles the ball like a point guard. It would be a shock if N.C. State doesn't immediately find a spot for him in the starting lineup. The only question about Leslie is his tendency to coast at times because his talent is so immense that he can get away with putting forth less than maximum effort. One of Lowe's most important jobs will be motivating Leslie to work hard on every play in practice and in games.

Where he fits: Leslie could start for the Wolfpack at small forward, where sophomore Scott Wood would be his top competition. Leslie also could play power forward, a spot that otherwise would be occupied by sophomore Richard Howell. Regardless of which position Leslie plays, he should be a factor on the fast break both as a finisher and a distributor, because he's a strong passer for a player who's 6-8. For defensive reasons, his best position probably is power forward. At that spot he will be a force in the low post and on the boards while using a quickness advantage to maneuver around opponents who are his size.

NORTH CAROLINA

Harrison Barnes 6-6, 190 SF, Ames, Iowa

Potential impact: The Tar Heels lacked a go-to scorer last season and could never count on consistently getting offense from the perimeter. Barnes, a McDonald's All-American, should provide both. He offers a great mid-range game, can make outside shots and will help take the focus off post players Tyler Zeller and John Henson - allowing UNC a more balanced attack. He will be an early favorite for ACC Rookie of the Year - and the Tar Heels will need him to play like it.

Where he fits: Junior Will Graves was the starter at small forward last season, and coach Roy Williams may be tempted to leave him in the opening lineup early on because he knows the system and is the only senior on the team. But if Barnes picks things up quickly and shows the IQ and ability coveted by most major colleges in the country, expect him to crack the starting lineup within the first 10 games. He could also potentially play shooting guard, giving UNC even more depth at a position that lacked it last season.

Reggie Bullock 6-6, 185 SG, Kinston

Potential impact: The "shooting" guard position was pretty much a misnomer for the Tar Heels last season, as defenses constantly left starter Marcus Ginyard uncovered and backup Dexter Strickland never had a chance to reach his potential at the position because he was also the backup point guard. Bullock should change that. He's a pinpoint 3-point shooter who can also play small forward.

Where he fits: With Ginyard graduated, Bullock will battle Strickland for the starting shooting guard position. Williams tends to like at least one of his perimeter starters to be a lock-down defender, so that could be a factor in who starts early on, too.

Kendall Marshall 6-3, 180 PG, Arlington, Va.

Potential impact: The Tar Heels were hurt last season by having only one true ballhandler, so adding Marshall, a McDonald's All-American, is an instant help - regardless whether he starts. Not only will the pass-first floor leader be able to push rising junior Larry Drew II to improve, he will also allow Strickland to return to his natural position. Marshall doesn't boast the speed of past point guards Raymond Felton or Ty Lawson, who led UNC to its last two national championships, but he's tall, strong and instinctively seems to know where to find his teammates for the perfect pass.

Where he fits: Marshall will get plenty of playing time, but he will have to beat out Drew to start, and that may be harder than some Drew detractors think. Not only did Drew show late-game spark and scoring ability during UNC's NIT run, but it usually takes freshman point guards a while to figure out how to push the pace and pass to coach Roy Williams' liking - which is why veterans usually get the early nod. Remember: Even Lawson didn't start during his freshman season until Bobby Frasor, a sophomore at the time, was injured.