[UNCbasketballbumParticipant]

Everyone by now already knows the hype that Harrison Barnes had coming out of high school.  I think people have forgotten that Reggie Bullock was a top ten player and five star recruit coming out of Kingston NC.  He went to the same HS as Jerry Stackhouse.  Bullock is a great shooter, great rebounder and a really good defender.  I think he has speed and athleticism similaer to Barnes, if not better and a quicker first step.  He was limited by a torn acl his freshman season and didn’t start his sophomore season till Strickland got hurt.  He’ll be an obvious starter next year.  He obviously has to work on his handle, but the times he drove last year he was very quick off the dribble and a good finisher.  Could Bullock have an all-acc type season next year and become better than Barnes?

[MalcolmxParticipant]

 Reggie bullock did not tear his ACL.

[apb540Participant]

It’s not easy to step in and replace 17 ppg with 5 boards no matter what high school you went to.  Coming off of an injury makes it even tougher.  Plus, Bullock is more or less strictly a SG while Banres is more of a SF (although I totally think he can play the 2 at the next level once his handle improves). 

[HaleParticipant]

Simply put, no. Barnes skill level was far greater then Bullock’s. Although Bullock should end up being a fine player in his own right.

[UNCbasketballbumParticipant]

Darn, 10 negs for asking a question.  I didn’t say he was going to be, I was asking you guys opinion. 

[bjcart53Participant]

 @UNCbasketballbum I can see it. Barnes has more ability but he needs to be a more consistent player for me to say he will hands down be better. Barnes made rivers look like mj for the first 5 minutes of the first unc duke game and it wasn’t his ankle cause he got beat alot all year. Bullock held rivers in check when he started on him in the second game. Reggie is a better shooter and better defender. If he develops more off the dribble then why couldn’t he be better than harrison. Too many unknowns about him.

[mosdefParticipant]

Can he replace Barnes? yes. How likely? I dont know

 

I think you got all the negatives cuz you tossed around the great word too much.  Just cuz you are a top 10 recruit doesnt make you great or even a lock for NBA stardom. If he was so great then why didnt he do great at UNC?

[UNCbasketballbumParticipant]

Sorry, he a GOOD rebounder, GOOD defender, could be really good.  Just reminding people he was a top ten recruit, never said just because he was a top ten recruit he would be a great player or even an NBA player.  People need to look more closely at these posts.

[akhan786Participant]

I think Bullock definitely has to potential to be better than Barnes in the long term. I’ve seen some plays off the dribble from him that frankly surprised me.

He’s already a better athlete and defender so the sky is the limit for him.

[surveParticipant]

 Better than Barnes as a collegiate?  Its possible, but unlikely.

They are different players.  Bullock is not a shot creator at all.  He is a an athletic, pure shooting wing.   Bullock can average more points than Barnes did in a single season.  He has the tools to do it, plus he will be relied upon to do it.  He is expected to carry the load.  That doesnt make him a better player though.  Barnes was still tough, confident, and consistant…just not dominant.

The other reason that makes it unlikely is that Barnes had 2 years as the featured player.  Likely, if Bullock has a great year, he wont be back as a senior.

NBA.  Thats different.  Barnes still has more upside and is a more complete scorer.  Barnes still looks like Ron Mercer to me…and thats not a bad thing, Mercer was very good.  Barnes handle is no where near as tight yet, but Barnes has NBA range on his jumper.  

Reggie however can be very good.   If he works really hard at moving without the ball, you may be looking at a player in the mold of Rip Hamilton.   That will take some hard work though because Rip was a master at navigating through screens at FULL SPEED.

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