by Alex Schwartz

In one of the most anticipated college announcements in recent memory, if not ever, 6'7 senior small forward Harrison Barnes of Ames Senior High School (IA) selected North Carolina over Duke, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma, and UCLA. The #3 ranked player in Northstar Basketball's Class of 2010 Terrific 125, declared his intentions to play for Roy Williams and Co. on ESPNU this afternoon in front of a packed gymnasium at his school. He also become the first player to make his choice by using Skype, as he video called Roy Williams to let him know he would be a Tar Heel.

Barnes teams with two other highly-touted recruits in UNC's class of 2010 in 6'6 shooting guard Reggie Bullock of Kinston (NC) and 6'3 point guard Kendall Marshall out of Bishop O'Connell (VA). Bullock is the #5 rated player in Northstar Basketball's Class of 2010, while Marshall checks in at #40. The defending NCAA national champions are the only school to have three top 40 commits and one of just two schools—Memphis is the other—with two of the top 10. Barnes and Barnes are the only top five duo headed to the same school though, and both are rated above the top 10 recruits bound for Memphis.

As all this shows, North Carolina has put together an elite recruiting class. The Heels check in at #2 in Northstar Basketball's unofficial recruiting rankings, just behind the six-man class of Ohio State. This follows UNC's class of 2009 that was arguably the best in the nation, and in addition, the ACC power has the makings of a top-tier class in 2011. Both James McAdoo of Norfolk Christian (VA)—a top three talent—and PJ Hairston of Dudley (NC), another upper-echelon player—have already declared for UNC.

So what does Barnes' commitment to North Carolina mean? Well, for starters, it shows that North Carolina is still on top of the basketball world. The Heels have won two of the last three national titles, are ranked in the preseason top five this year, and continue to land elite recruit after elite recruit. Next, this makes Roy Williams' squad the early, early favorite for the 2010-2011 national title. Barnes, Bullock, and Marshall will all be able to contribute immediately, and Barnes will probably be the team's best player. Tyler Zeller, Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, David Wear, Travis Wear, Larry Drew, and probably John Henson back as well to form an extremely deep and talented roster.

What Barnes' commitment means the most though, is that North Carolina is clearly ahead of Duke in the best rivalry in all of sports, and Coach K and Co. remain a notch below the nation's elite programs right now. For a long time the Blue Devils were considered the favorite to land Harrison Barnes. Last year he even took an unofficial visit to Durham for a game to surprise Mike Krzyzewski. Duke not only missed out on Barnes, but lost him to its bitter rival and will now have to play him at least twice in college, if not more.

Now, Duke is still one of the best teams and programs in the nation and its recruiting class (#6 Kyrie Irving, #41 Josh Hairston, and #108 Tyler Thornton) is still top 10, but that is not where that program strives to be. Barnes and Irving were expected to team with Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly, Miles Plumlee, and possibly Kyle Singler and bring Duke back to its first Final Four since 2004. That will now be tough, though is certainly still possible if Singler stays and/or if Duke lands #35 Roscoe Smith.

This is a huge blow to Duke though, and Mike Krzyzewski has got to be quite frustrated. Duke has now missed out on its #1 recruit each of the past three years in Greg Monroe (Georgetown), Kenny Boynton (Florida), and now Harrison Barnes. What makes this one hurt the most is that Barnes not only spurned the Blue Devils, but he is headed to Chapel Hill. In addition, many felt that once Kyrie Irving had committed to Duke, Barnes was even more likely to follow, as the two have a close relationship and Irving even referred to Barnes as being like a "big brother" when he pledged to the Blue Devils. This truly was a bad Friday the 13th for the Duke basketball program.

Also, this is tough for Kansas, who was perceived as the leader at one point. The Jayhawks still have just one commit in 2010 in #106 Royce Woolridge and have also missed out on #10 Joe Jackson (Memphis). The difference here is that Kansas is the consensus #1 team in the nation right now and won the national championship just two years ago. Iowa State has also got to be disappointed to let the local star get away, as Barnes lives only a few minutes from the Big XII school, his mother works there, his father played there, and Greg McDermott's son Geoff is a teammate of Barnes at Ames.

Despite how hard this is might be for Duke, Kansas, Iowa State and also UCLA and Oklahoma to some extent, this is really about North Carolina. The Tar Heels have been amazing these past few years, are a tradition-rich program, and continue to load up. Roy Williams entered the race for Barnes later than some, but still came away with the star's signature. He is one of the best coaches in the country, if not the best, and he has this program at a sky-high level.

Should we have known, by the way, that Barnes was headed to UNC? He came to school today in Jordan gear and came into his press conference to the Chicago Bulls' entrance music. Could those have been subtle signs, or mere conincidenes?

Harrison Barnes is officially a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels. That is great news for them, and bad news for everyone else in the country. One of the most talented and hardest-working players in the nation will be taking his game to Chapel Hill, and he has made it clear that he has his eyes set on a national championship.

Barnes is, by all accounts, a great person and student in addition to being a tremendous talent on the court, and he is a major addtion to the North Carolina program.

Note- photos are from http://scouthoops.scout.com/