| Iowa phenom Barnes to sign with Tar Heels

Iowa-phenom-Barnes-to-sign-with-Tar-Heels AMES, Iowa - As the college basketball world waited breathlessly, Iowa prep phenom Harrison Barnes dialed into a video conference with his future coach.

No one but Barnes, his mother and his little sister knew who would be on the other line Friday — until beaming North Carolina coach Roy Williams appeared on a screen positioned next to a hastily assembled podium.

“All right!” Williams said.

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All right indeed, for the Tarheels. Not so great for Duke, Kansas, Oklahoma, UCLA and his hometown school, Iowa State.

Barnes, a 6-foot-7 swingman from Ames widely regarded as the top player in the Class of 2010, announced Friday that he would play for North Carolina.

Barnes made the announcement before hundreds of students and onlookers — many of whom were decked out in Iowa State gear — in the gym at Ames High School. Even though the crowd was decidedly pro-Iowa State, Barnes got a rousing ovation when he broke the news to Williams and the Tarheels, who were huddled around a video phone awaiting his decision.

“We developed a lot of trust in our relationship,” Barnes said of Williams. “It was great to see how, even though we developed that relationship, he didn’t get comfortable with that. He still kept coming to see me. He still kept calling me. He really put in the time and effort.”

Barnes said he chose North Carolina both because of his relationship with Williams and the school’s academics. Barnes had long said he was looking for a program with a strong business school. He said he plans to study business at North Carolina and graduate in just three years.

“I think he’s a great teacher of the game. But more than that, I liked the academic plan they had for me,” Barnes said.

Barnes led Ames to a 26-0 record and a state title last winter, but made a name for himself nationally with impressive performances on the summer circuit. He’s been an athletic wing player with a strong jump shot, a high basketball IQ and the ability to defend multiple positions.

Barnes wouldn’t say whether he’ll play shooting guard or small forward for North Carolina, but odds are the Tarheels will find somewhere to play him.

“I’ll play whatever gets me on the floor,” Barnes said. “I think it’s just good to be versatile.”

Barnes’ signing is yet another coup for Williams involving Iowa prep standouts. He signed Iowans Nick Collison, Raef LaFrentz and Kirk Hinrich while at Kansas.

But Barnes is arguably the highest-rated of those prospects.

He plays with Iowa State coach Greg McDermott’s son, Doug, at Ames High, his mother, Shirley Barnes, works for the university and he’s often seen at Hilton Coliseum during games.

That left many in central Iowa hoping that Barnes might pick the Cyclones, who haven’t made the NCAA tournament in four seasons and could surely have used the multitalented Barnes.

Instead, Barnes joins Reggie Bullock of Kinston, N.C., and Virginia product Kendall Marshall in North Carolina’s latest haul of top-rated recruits.

“HB is a great kid....I wish him well. I am disappointed just like our fans. Time to focus on a group of guys that love Iowa State!” McDermott posted on Twitter shortly after Barnes’ announcement.

Barnes said it was a relief to finally end the recruiting process, but added that he isn’t ready to get too comfortable. After all, Ames High starts practice Monday and he’s expected to lead the Little Cyclones to another state title.

“He’s living his dream,” Shirley Barnes said. “This is his dream.”

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| Swine flu linked to seven deaths in Amazon

Swine-flu-linked-to-seven-deaths-in-Amazon CARACAS, Venezuela - Swine flu has appeared among Venezuelas Yanomami Indians, one of the largest isolated indigenous groups in the Amazon, and a doctor said Wednesday that the virus is suspected in seven deaths, including six infants.

The deaths happened in forest villages near Venezuelas border with Brazil over the past 2 1/2 weeks, said Raidan Bernade, a Venezuelan doctor on a team sent to contain the outbreak and treat the ill.

Bernade told The Associated Press that doctors confirmed one of those who died had swine flu — a 35-year-old Yanomami woman who doctors believe was pregnant.

Six babies, the oldest of whom was about 1 year old, died from similar symptoms, though samples werent taken in time to confirm it was swine flu, Bernade said by phone from La Esmeralda, a riverside town at the edge of the vast rain forest territory where the Yanomami live.

He said the victims had fever and coughing at first, and suffered complications from pneumonia.

Groups very susceptible to disease
The deaths were reported Wednesday by the London-based indigenous rights group Survival International, which warned that if not properly contained the virus could spread and cause more deaths among people who are particularly susceptible to disease due to their limited contact with the outside world.

Yamilet Mirabal, the governments deputy minister of indigenous affairs for the region, told the AP she was informed of six Yanomami deaths suspected of being due to swine flu. She said the outbreak was detected about three weeks ago and health officials have taken precautions since to prevent the illness from spreading.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez acknowledged Tuesday night that the virus reached some indigenous settlements, though he didnt mention the Yanomami or give details.

Swine flu hasnt gone away... It was detected in an indigenous community, Chavez said in a televised speech. Its under control now.

Mirabal said suspected swine flu cases appeared in three Yanomami villages — Mavaca, Platanal and Hatakoa — and a Cuban-trained team of Venezuelan doctors known as Battalion 51 was sent to the area to treat the ill and track possible cases.

Two swine flu cases have been confirmed among the ill, but those people have been treated and recovered, Bernade said.

Doctors identified some 2,000 people with various respiratory illnesses in the zone in recent weeks and took samples from those with serious cases, Bernade said.

He said about 110 sick people are being evaluated to see if they might have swine flu, though doctors believe most have a seasonal flu that appears regularly in the area. He said sick people are isolated in homes, and their numbers have been declining.

Everything is under control, Bernade said.

There are an estimated 28,000 or more Yanomami living in communities on both sides of the Venezuela-Brazil border. They have maintained their language as well as traditions including face paint and wooden facial ornaments piercing their noses, cheeks and lips.

The Yanomami often suffer from malaria and also have seen deaths in the past from outbreaks of illnesses such as measles, yellow fever and hepatitis. In many cases, they have become sick after contact with outsiders.

Athletic event suspected in spread
It is unclear how swine flu reached the Yanomami. One possibility is that someone with the virus attended an athletic event in one of the villages last month, Mirabal said. Indigenous people came from all around for the sporting event, which is said to have included soccer — a popular sport among the Yanomami.

Bernade said the first death happened during that multi-day event. He said another possibility is that someone with the virus came with visiting government officials several days earlier.

Last month, Venezuela confirmed there have been 90 deaths nationwide from swine flu, and 1,910 cases of the virus.

Survival International, which supports the rights of tribal peoples internationally, has helped campaign for Yanomami land rights in the past.

Fiona Watson, its research and field director, said she is unaware of any similar swine flu outbreaks in Amazon indigenous communities. She called for urgent action to keep the virus from spreading.

Survivals real fear is that this is going to spread rapidly ... because the Yanomami are a relatively isolated people, said Watson, who has visited Yanomami villages previously. If it gets into these remote communities, by the time people find out its likely to be too late.

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