Will Julius Randle be the next Harrison Barnes?

Given his style of play and the fact that Randle is actively considering North Carolina, there’s certainly a chance he could be beginning in 2013.

“The one thing that [North Carolina] is going to need, they’re going to need a Julius Randle to be a Harrison Barnes that can do certain things on the wing and he can play inside if he has to,” Nate Britt Sr., the father of 2013 point guard and North Carolina commit Nate Britt, told FiveStarBasketball.com.

“[Randle] can do multiple things. He can just do it all. He’s that type of kid.”

Click here to read the full story at FiveStarBasketball.com.

**And check out the Five Star Big Board on Carolina here.

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter

And like ZAGS on Facebook

North Carolina junior guard Dexter Strickland tore his right ACL in Thursday’s win at Virginia Tech and is done for the rest of the 2011-12 season.

Strickland, a Rahway, N.J. native who starred at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick, suffered the injury early in the second half in Blacksburg as he drove to the basket.

“Positive thinking! Everything happens for a reason, God always has a plan! Thanks to everyone who is praying for me! I appreciate it!” Strickland Tweeted Friday night. (more…)

North Carolina junior guard Dexter Strickland injured his right knee Thursday and will have it evaluated Friday in Chapel Hill.

The  former Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick star’s knee buckled as he drove on a fastbreak and pulled up to shoot from 10 feet out early in the second half of  Carolina’s 82-68 win at Virginia Tech.

“Just want to thank everyone for praying for me..I really appreciate it! I’ll be ok!” Strickland Tweeted after the game.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported that Strickland was “wearing a support with no ice wrapped to the knee with five minutes left.”

“I have no idea about the extent of his injury,” Carolina coach Roy Williams said, according to CBSSports.com.

The 6-foot-3 Strickland is averaging 7.9 points and 2.1 assists.

Harrison Barnes went for 27 in the win.

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter

And like ZAGS on Facebook

By JOSH NEWMAN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Looking back on it, the weight and expectations placed on Harrison Barnes before he even suited up for the University of North Carolina as a freshman last season were unfair and they weighed on him early in his rookie campaign.

Barnes was a highly-decorated high school player out of Ames (Ia.) High School. A McDonald’s All-American in 2010, the 6-foot-9, 210-pound swingman was the USA Today National Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American a year after being named The Sporting News National Player of the Year as a junior. Over his final two years of high school, Ames went 53-0 and won back-to-back state titles. (more…)

If Charles Barkley had the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, he might go with Harrison Barnes over Anthony Davis.

“I’m not sure if I would take that kid [Davis] No. 1,” Barkley said Thursday on a TNT conference call in response to my question. “I mean, that Barnes kid is a stud.”

The 6-foot-8 Barnes is averaging 17.5 points and 4.1 rebounds at North Carolina, while the 6-10 Davis is averaging 11.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.1 blocks at Kentucky.

Barkley said he watched a lot of college hoops during the NBA lockout and isn’t sold on Davis, who is projected by many as the No. 1 pick.

“That kid at Kentucky, he’s going to have to some gain weight,” Barkley said. “I’m about to send John Calipari some money to get him a weight room down there.”

Don’t ask Shaquille O’Neal his opinion on college players, though.

“I’m not really a fan of college basketball,” he said. “When I’m at home I watch a lot of NBA TV and Maury Povich. I don’t know who’s who in college, I really don’t.”

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter

And like ZAGS on Facebook

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Dexter Strickland sat quietly in a corner of the North Carolina locker room in Rupp Arena Saturday afternoon.

After talking about all the “little mistakes” that led to No. 5 Carolina’s 73-72 loss to No. 1 Kentucky, Strickland said he wants the rematch.

“Oh, absolutely,” the former Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick star told SNY.tv. “Absolutely, we gotta get them.”

A year ago, of course, the two college basketball heavyweights met twice, with Carolina winning the regular season encounter at home and then losing the big one in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in Newark. (more…)

LEXINGTON, Ky. — On the eve of the big Carolina-Kentucky game, John Calipari said he hopes to continue the series after this year.

“Roy [Williams] and I have talked and both of us still want to play the series,” Calipari said Friday. “It’s important for both programs, but there’s only so many games you can play.”

The two storied programs will meet for the 12th straight year, and have continually re-upped a series of two-year, home-and-home affairs. (more…)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It’s not whether you’re No. 1 during the regular season that matters.

It’s whether you’re in the top spot when it’s all over.

Nobody knows that better than Kentucky freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, whose team is currently No. 1 entering Saturday’s much-hyped matchup with his former Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick teammate Dexter Strickland and No. 5 North Carolina at Rupp Arena.

Like Kentucky, Gilchrist’s St. Patrick team was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation for much of last year. (more…)

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bring on John Henson and North Carolina.

That’s what Anthony Davis said after nearly pulling off only the second  triple-double in Kentucky history as the No. 1 Wildcats routed St. John’s 81-59 in the Big East/SEC Challenge at Rupp Arena.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” the 6-foot-10 Davis said after notching 15 points, 15 rebounds and 8 blocks. “Henson plays just like me. He’s a great shot-blocker and I just can’t wait to go against him Saturday.” (more…)

Nate Britt is a Carolina Tar Heel.

The 6-foot-2, 160-pound Britt chose the Heels over Maryland, Georgetown, Virginia, Villanova and Arizona.

“At the end of the day, North Carolina felt like home to me,” Britt told FiveStarBasketball.com in an exclusive interview.

The Rivals No. 5 point guard in the Class of 2013, Britt figures to compete with 2012 signee Marcus Paige in the post-Kendall Marshall Era. Marshall could opt to leave for the NBA after this season or next. If he stays through his senior year, he and Britt would play together for one season. (more…)