UNC Basketball: Kyrie Irving hinted a potential package deal with Harrison Barnes

Former Duke basketball point guard Kyrie Irving hinted that there was the potential of a package deal with Harrison Barnes

The 2010 college basketball recruiting class was loaded with talent, headlined by players like Harrison Barnes, Kyrie Irving, Jared Sullinger, Brandon Knight and Tristan Thompson among others.

Both Barnes and Irving were ranked as five-star recruits and were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 according to the 247 Sports rankings. Barnes ended up picking the University of North Carolina while the point guard Irving went down the road and picked the Duke Blue Devils.

The two developed a friendship during their recruitments and continue that friendship to this day as they both are in the NBA. But what if I told you there was a chance that the recruits could have been a package deal and UNC could have landed both of them?

While participating in an NBA exhibition game between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets held in the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill, Irving spoke to recruiters about his college days and an interesting note came up. Irving mentioned being recruited by Roy Williams and the Tar Heels and even hinted there was a package deal possibly in the works.

Here’s what Irving told MassLive:

"When I was in high school, there was a time where me and Coach (Roy) Williams had a talk and there was a possible Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving package deal that was going to happen,” Irving said."

Irving played in just 11 games with Duke after suffering an injury early on in his career but did return for the NCAA Tournament. He left Duke after one season and was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011.

Barnes stayed two seasons at UNC and reached the Elite 8 in back-to-back years losing to Kentucky in 2011 and Kansas in 2012.  The Tar Heels were loaded with talent in both years and arguably had their best shot to win it all in 2012. Those chances took a big hit when they lost Dexter Strickland early in the season and then point guard Kendall Marshall with a wrist injury early in the NCAA Tournament.

The thought of Barnes and Irving together would give UNC fans chills as both are very talented players. We won’t know how much of an impact Irving would have had on that 2011 team, but it’s safe to say he probably makes them at least a little better.

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