UNC Basketball: Ranking the 10 recruiting classes of the decade

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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 10: Harrison Barnes #40 of the North Carolina Tar Heels huddles with his team against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the semifinals of the 2012 ACC Men’s Basketball Conference Tournament at Philips Arena on March 10, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 2010 Class

Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, Kendall Marshall, and Justin Knox

One of the most talented classes to come through Chapel Hill in the past 20 years, unfortunately, will be remembered by one injury that kept them from possibly winning another National Championship.

Led by Harrison Barnes, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2010 class, the all-around wing had a good but not great career. One of the most talented players to come to Chapel Hill, Barnes will be remembered as someone who lacked the killer instinct, highlighted in the 2012 NCAA Tournament loss to Kansas in the Elite Eight. Despite that, he led two of the most talented teams in the past decade in all of college basketball and put a lot of weight on his shoulders doing so.

Another talented wing was that of Reggie Bullock. Mainly a reserve for his first couple of years, his ability to shoot, rebound, and pass was all on display during his junior season. Being an All-ACC Second-Team selection, Bullock left for the NBA Draft after the 2011-12 season.

As for the third member of the class? One of the best point guards to ever step foot in Chapel Hill, Kendall Marshall took over the starting point guard position halfway through his freshman season and never looked back.

In his sophomore year, Marshall set an all-time UNC single-season assist record (351), surpassing Ed Cota, and also set the single-season assists record in the ACC. Despite breaking his wrist in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Marshall was the Bob Cousy winner for top point guard in the country.

For Justin Knox, the Alabama grad transfer was a quality member of the rotation behind the likes of Tyler Zeller and John Henson in the 2010-11 season.

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