If Charles Barkley had the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, he might go with Harrison Barnes over Anthony Davis.
“I’m not sure if I would take that kid [Davis] No. 1,” Barkley said Thursday on a TNT conference call in response to my question. “I mean, that Barnes kid is a stud.”
The 6-foot-8 Barnes is averaging 17.5 points and 4.1 rebounds at North Carolina, while the 6-10 Davis is averaging 11.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.1 blocks at Kentucky.
Barkley said he watched a lot of college hoops during the NBA lockout and isn’t sold on Davis, who is projected by many as the No. 1 pick.
“That kid at Kentucky, he’s going to have to some gain weight,” Barkley said. “I’m about to send John Calipari some money to get him a weight room down there.”
Don’t ask Shaquille O’Neal his opinion on college players, though.
“I’m not really a fan of college basketball,” he said. “When I’m at home I watch a lot of NBA TV and Maury Povich. I don’t know who’s who in college, I really don’t.”
