Harrison Barnes' "Black Falcon" nickname came from ESPN
Posted Jan 28, 2011
How did UNC freshman Harrison Barnes get ‘The Black Falcon’ as a nickname? Credit ESPN. “When I was at the Jordan Game, myself, Jared Sullinger, and Kyrie Irving got a tour of ESPN,’’ Barnes said today. “ They gave us [each] nicknames. “I said I wanted mine to be an animal, because Michael Jordan was the ‘Black Cat’ and Kobe was the ‘Black Mamba,’” Barnes said. “And they just gave me the ‘Black Falcon.’
(Raleigh News & Observer)
Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting
Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Still No Indication from Matt Able; Sayon Keita's ProspectsUNC Basketball fans anxiously await Matt Able’s NBA Draft decision as NCAA eligibility rules loom large. Will Able suit up for the Tar Heels or...
Mon May 25, 2026Video: TarHeel247 Podcast - Michael Malone’s High School Recruiting Strategy Explained
Michael Malone isn't quite two months into his tenure as North Carolina's basketball coach, but we have learned plenty about his approach to recruiting high...
Mon May 25, 2026
Former UNC national champion Deon Thompson retires from professional basketball
When you look at the best college basketball teams of all time, UNC's 2008-09 national championship-winning team has to be up there. One player not...
Sun May 24, 2026
Video: TarHeel247 Podcast - Is UNC in the Running for 5-star Marcus Spears?
Marcus Spears is the top player in the 2027 basketball recruiting class, and he's a major UNC Target. Recruiting analyst David Sisk from TarHeel247 recently...
Sun May 24, 2026