Barnes watches as Duke thumps Pfeifer

Staff photo by Chuck Liddy

A life sized photo of sought after high school recruit Harrison Barnes is held up in the stands before the Pfeiffer exhibition game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. Harrison was sitting behind the Duke bench during the game during a weekend visit. The sign was removed moments later by stadium officials.

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Barnes gets an eyeful

Before Duke's exhibition opener even started, a security guard ordered students to hand down the signs they had brought to Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Harrison Barnes, a 6-foot-6 forward from Ames, Iowa, who is rated the top high school senior in the nation, was about to enter the arena to watch Duke's 128-70 pasting of Pfeiffer on Saturday in its exhibition opener.

The signs were photocopies with Barnes' head superimposed on the body of a Duke player in uniform. NCAA rules prohibit students from participating in organized wooing of prospects on their campus visits, so the signs were collected and taken away.

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Barnes chooses Tar Heels

In front of an anxious crowd at his high school and a national TV audience on ESPNU Friday afternoon, top-ranked recruit Harrison Barnes walked over to a laptop to connect by video conference to the coach whose school he planned to sign with.

After an awkward, 70-second pause while the video link was established, coach Roy Williams and the North Carolina team appeared on the projection screen at the gym at Ames High School in Iowa.

Cheers erupted in the gym. Williams explained that he'd gathered the whole team on the Chapel Hill end of the video conference.

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Top hoops recruit Barnes picks UNC

In front of an anxious crowd at his high school and a national TV audience on ESPN-U Friday afternoon, top-ranked recruit Harrison Barnes walked over to a laptop to connect by video conference to the coach whose school he planned to sign with.

After an awkward, 70-second pause while the video link was established, coach Roy Williams and the North Carolina team appeared on the projection screen at the gym at Ames High School in Iowa.

Cheers erupted in the gym. Williams explained that he'd gathered the whole team on the Chapel Hill end of the video conference.

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Duke handles UNC-G in season opener

DURHAM - There was plenty of talk Friday about what Duke doesn't have and who the Blue Devils aren't getting.

But in a 96-62, season-opening defeat of UNC Greensboro on Friday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the ninth-ranked Blue Devils demonstrated that they have a lot of good qualities.

For starters there's junior forward Kyle Singler, who is the only preseason All-American from the ACC according to The Associated Press. He scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half, gamely mixing post moves, mid-range jumpers and 3-point shots in a versatile performance.

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Duke, UNC await word from coveted recruit

There's a lot riding on the decision of an unusually disciplined high school senior today.

Harrison Barnes, a 6-foot-6 wing who's rated the top basketball player in his class, will announce his college choice at 4 p.m. Eastern Time this afternoon in the gym at Ames High School in Iowa.

ESPNU will televise the announcement live. Barnes, whose secrecy has amazed recruiting analysts, will sign a letter of intent that could have a profound effect on the balance of power between Triangle superpowers Duke and North Carolina.