Harrison Barnes losing grip on No. 1 pick Espn insider

North Carolina freshman Harrison Barnes debuted in our Top 100 in July as the clear No. 1 player in the 2011 NBA draft. In July, there wasn’t really a close second.

Barnes was a dominant high school player. He averaged 26 ppg, 10 rpg and 3.6 spg as a senior. He shot 62 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3. He was ranked No. 1 by ESPNU. He won MVP awards at the McDonald’s All-American Game, won two state championships and led his team to a 53-0 record in his last two seasons. On the day he committed to play for North Carolina, the press conference was nationally televised.

NBA scouts were crazy for him. They called him the most complete player to come out of high school in years. Even compared him to Kobe Bryant.

Seven games into his college career, Harrison Barnes is no longer on top of the world. His debut for North Carolina has been underwhelming to say the least.

Not only have the Tar Heels already lost three games, but Barnes is averaging just 11.3 ppg with a shooting percentage (34 percent form the field) that is downright ugly. Barnes has looked passive at times. He’s struggled to create shots for himself. Anyone who didn’t see him play in high school is asking the same question … "What was all the hype about?"

Said one NBA GM who has scouted Barnes in person, "He’s been unimpressive."

Tar Heels coach Roy Williams has been lashing out at the media, especially ESPN, for being so hard on the freshman. Williams understands that not every freshman, nor every No. 1 pick, comes out of the gate sizzling.

Derrick Rose, for example, didn’t look like the No. 1 pick in early December either.

But there’s no way to mask that Barnes hasn’t lived up to expectations and his early play has created a bit of a crisis among NBA talent evaluators. If Barnes isn’t the No. 1 pick … who is?

I spoke with a number of NBA scouts and executives to get a better feel for what they were thinking. Most still stressed that they believe Barnes will eventually earn his rightful place atop our draft board and the majority still have him ranked No. 1 (as do we) for now. But if he continues to struggle, here’s a look at four players they nominated to take his place:

Kyrie Irving, PG, Fr., Duke
Irving is coming off his best game of the season, a 31-point, six-rebound, four-assist showing against Michigan State. He’s been terrific in virtually every game for the top-ranked Blue Devils and has wowed NBA scouts with his poise, floor vision, speed, shooting and leadership on the floor.

A number of NBA scouts and executives now have him ranked No. 1 on the boards.

"He doesn’t play like a freshman," one NBA executive said. "He may not be the most explosive player on the planet — he’s not John Wall — but Wall doesn’t run a team the way this kid does, either. He’s going to be great."

Said another NBA executive, "He was my choice for the No. 1 pick before the season began. I just think point guards like that don’t come along very often."

Perry Jones, F, Fr., Baylor
Jones isn’t having a breakout season yet, but he’s quietly putting together a strong case for a spot at No. 1. On sheer physical talent and size, NBA scouts have always preferred him to anyone else in the freshman class. But his lack of strength and his ability to disappear for long stretches as a high school player have always given scouts pause.

So far Jones has shown well. He’s averaging 13 ppg and 9 rpg and shown flashes of greatness. One NBA executive had him ranked as the top player in the class.

"He has all the tools for greatness," the executive said about ranking Jones No. 1. But even he wasn’t firmly on the bandwagon. "But he’s not a clear front-runner. More data is needed. I wouldn’t want to make a decision now. It’s still too cloudy."

Terrence Jones, F, Fr., Kentucky
Jones wasn’t expected to be in this discussion so early. But his strong play for Kentucky has changed that. In his first six games he’s averaging over 20 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg, shooting 50 percent from the floor and 44 percent from 3. That’s the definition of versatility.

Before the season, scouts were comparing him to the next Lamar Odom. But Jones is stronger and proving to be more impressive in the paint than he showed in high school.

"He’s really impressed me," an NBA executive said. "I always thought he was a little soft. But he’s playing as hard as I’ve ever seen him play and showing he can do it from anywhere on the floor. Who doesn’t like a guy like that? Everyone talked about Barnes being the most complete player in the country … I think Jones is."

He wasn’t alone. Two of the NBA executives I spoke with had him ranked No. 1 on their boards and others say they might get on board if this keeps up all season.

Enes Kanter, C, ???
Kanter was ruled ineligible by the NCAA at the start of the season, and he’s still waiting for them to rule on his appeal. Most of the NBA scouts I spoke with don’t think he’ll be playing college basketball this season.

But none of them seem deterred. Whatever happens, Kanter is a talented big man who showed scouts at the Nike Hoop Summit that he could play with anyone. Big men rise come draft time and one NBA GM had an interesting scenario:

"It’s been a few years since we lacked a clear No. 1 pick. The last time it happened was the year Andrea Bargnani went No. 1. I wonder if history might repeat itself. If no one from college wows, you end up swinging for a guy with a bit more mystery and a lot of upside. That’s Kanter."