The next Shane Battier is going to ... North Carolina.

Man, this one has to hurt Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils' staff.

Coach K had been recruiting the nation's top-ranked player, Harrison Barnes, longer than his Tobacco Road rival.

Duke also had a larger need for the 6-foot-8 Ames High (Iowa) star.

But the Tar Heels received the most important prize of the Class of 2010 when Barnes committed to North Carolina in new-age fashion – via Skype.

Barnes is the complete package. He's got the charisma of Battier, the former Duke standout, and is even more talented.

Most had pegged him as Duke-bound for the past year or so.

But now the Blue Devils will continue their effort to get back to the elite without a key piece.

Unless Kyle Singler returns for his senior season next year, which he hasn't ruled out, it's difficult to imagine the Blue Devils cutting down the nets anytime soon.

"Our goal is for Kyle not to come back next year," Krzyzewski told me earlier in the week.

But Duke needs him back to do anything significant by Duke standards.

The Blue Devils will replace senior Jon Scheyer with natural point guard Kyrie Irving and talented freshman Mason Plumlee will be a year older, but Coach K needed Barnes or for Singler to return for one more go-around to get him back on top of the college basketball word.

Now, it's North Carolina that's celebrating tonight on Franklin St., and this victory may be more important than any regular-season game between the two.

This victory can result in another national title.

Barnes and fellow Tar Heels signee Kendall Marshall, a point guard from Virginia, will come in and plug two of North Carolina's biggest needs. UNC also signed another scoring wing, Reggie Bullock.

Barnes gives North Carolina a go-to guy and also a wing scorer, while Marshall is an upgrade over Larry Drew II at the point guard spot.

His addition also makes the talented Tar Heels the early leader for the national title.

Next year.

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