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Harrison Barnes weighed his options and made a decision. He decided he wanted to stay in college.

At least for another year.

Barnes, the highly recruited freshman who helped North Carolina reach the East Regional final this year in the NCAA tournament, made his announcement Monday morning in a prepared statement that mentioned things like "college life" and "a quality education" and all the things you don't hear a lot from college kids these days.

The statement flew in the face of what we usually hear. In fact, what we usually hear is a kid leaving after his freshman year in college and talking about how he wants to make some real money and buy mom a big house.

OK, maybe you don't hear those exact words, but that's generally the sentiment. Barnes didn't say any of that.

"I'm honored and blessed for the chance to play in the NBA," he said. "And because of my family, teachers, passion and work, I have the ultimate dream of one day playing and experiencing a fulfilling career in the NBA."

The truth is, Barnes knows something not a lot of other people don't know. There's probably not going to be an NBA next year. The truth is, Carolina is dialed in to "the league" as much as any school in America, and the advice coming from those in the know is to take that into consideration in any decisions.

In retrospect, you have to wonder why Duke's Kyrie Irving didn't come to the same conclusion. Irving announced two weeks ago that he would go pro and would hire an agent, thus burning the last bridge between him and his "college life."

The rumor of an impending NBA lockout went viral last week, then it went out of orbit when Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said without reservation, that there will be an NBA lockout next year. Jackson, whose general manager is North Carolina alumnus Mitch Kupchak, said he will retire instead of sitting around.

Barnes said he will go back to college. Irving said he's willing to sit around.

These are really the two sides to what the college players are facing this year. Already, we've seen a number of players announce their intentions to stay in school. Carolina will bring back every single starter next season, including John Henson and Tyler Zeller, who already announced their intentions.

Kansas freshman Josh Selby has declared for the draft. Baylor freshman Perry Jones and Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger have said they will stay..

This hasn't happened before in the modern era of the NBA. Last year, 50 college players filed for early entry. This year, only 28 have declared and they have until May 8 to withdraw if they haven't hired an agent. Several are expected to do so.

Barnes' situation isn't unlike many of the others. He needs another year of college basketball, not just college life. He needs to work on his ballhandling. He needs to work on shot selection and movement off the ball. Another year under Roy Williams will work wonders.

And he can come back to UNC, become a sure-fire All-American, try again to win a national title and not have to sit around while other early entrants consider insurance policies and loans and having to wonder what they missed by going pro.

"Opportunities, both beneficial and life changing, can seem to make the next phase of my journey an easy decision," Barnes said. "But I am a student-athlete at the University of North Carolina. I'm here to experience college life, grow as a person, receive a quality education and be part of the greatest basketball family in college sports."

Yeah, it was a little over the top. If he were staying for four years and getting a degree, those words would have more power behind them. But give the kid a break. He made a tough decision and did it with the right things in mind. And don't judge Irving. He had the same information and went the other way. We don't know the reasons why.

We'll never know how good a college player he could've been. And that's a shame. We're going to find out just how good a college player Barnes can be. And that's exciting and rare in this day and age.

Contact Ed Hardin at 373-7069 or ed.hardin@news-record.com