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

UNC Men's Basketball draws 6 seed, trip to Greenville, S.C., for early-round games
No. 19 UNC Men's Basketball is headed to Greenville, S.C., for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed in...
Sun Mar 15, 2026

UNC is No. 6 Seed, Will Face VCU on Thursday in First Round of NCAA Tournament
March Madness has arrived. North Carolina officially earned the No. 6 seed in the South region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which was announced Sunday...
Sun Mar 15, 2026

UNC Basketball's NCAA History Without Winning an ACCT Game
How has UNC Men's Basketball fared in the NCAA Tournament after being bounced early from the ACC Tournament? We did the research. Here are each...
Sun Mar 15, 2026

With March Madness here, UNC Basketball searches for one last push for success
The Tar Heels are now heading toward Selection Sunday having lost their final two basketball games and with no guarantee beyond the next one. "Now...
Sun Mar 15, 2026