Source: Charlotte Observer

Five players auditioned for the Charlotte Bobcats Thursday, among them Harrison Barnes of North Carolina. The Bobcats have the second pick in the NBA draft, and Barnes is the only one of the five who is a candidate.

As we wait for the players to finish, I tell a man that Barnes reminds me of Charlotte's Matt Carroll. The sentence is out of my mouth no more than two seconds when Carroll walks onto the practice court.

This is more than a coincidence.

Carroll is a very good shooter (he wasn't last season, but little went right for Charlotte last season). Barnes is a very good shooter.

Carroll is 6-6 and 212 pounds. Barnes is 6-8 and 210 pounds.

Carroll almost never goes to the basket. Barnes almost never goes to the basket.

You watched the Tar Heels last season. You waited for Barnes to fake a shot and drive and draw a foul or hit a layup.

But if Barnes drove, it was in a car after the game.

As pretty as his shot is, his reluctance or inability to beat his man off the dribble means the Bobcats can't - all right, shouldn't - invest their golden No. 2 pick on him.

How did Barnes, who turned 20 last month, look Wednesday?

"He played to his strengths," says Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap. "He shoots the ball extremely well, he's a very good athlete and he's got a good attitude."

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