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Okay, it's been well-documented that Harrison Barnes' visit to North Carolina was a Grade-A, well-orchestrated official visit . The follow-up Raleigh, N&O article takes it a step further and has vintage ACC hoops recruiting warfare as its underlying premise. Adding fuel to the buzz, was a report of Coach "K" countering with a visit to Ames recently.

But what about Kansas? A four hour drive for the family to see all of young Barnes' games as a Jayhawk should not be underestimated. Also, Kansas may be one of a few schools that can go toe-to-toe with Duke and North Carolina in recruiting.

So let's see how this all plays out. The momentum meter reads steady at the moment despite all the ACC hoop-a-la. Kansas appears to be playing it coy and confident as it prepares for a high-octane season and a run for the title as its best recruiting strategy.

I think you're right that Kansas, especially, is getting overlooked by ACC media, but I guess that's to be expected.

The most immediate suspense for me right now in the Barnes recruitment is whether he signs in the fall or opts to remain open throughout the winter and into spring.

In the past, a lot of guys who had planned to wait ended up signing in order to relieve the pressure. Barnes will have viewed his presumed favorites at that point on several occasions each, so it will be possible for him to make an informed decision.

On the other hand, he very well may choose to watch what happens this season (and Kansas, with its loaded team, may have the best year) before making his pick.

But if Barnes is as smart as everyone seems to indicate, whichever team has the best upcoming year will not be a factor, particularly among UNC, Duke, Kansas. He will see through that as those teams are always going to have good years, just some better than others.

His most pressing concern might well be just where he might fit after the year as teams reshape with graduation and early departures. But then again, he may succomb to the lure of some program and say to heck with waiting.