Nerlens Noel has dropped Florida and Providence from his list of schools.

Noel, a 6-foot-11 center, will choose between Kentucky, Georgetown, Syracuse, Connecticut and North Carolina.

He plans to make his decision in April.

Tyler Zeller has taken two classes devoted entirely to the concept of leadership as part of his coursework toward completing his business administration degree at North Carolina.

"Tyler seems to be mature beyond his years," said UNC instructor Jim Kitchen, who taught Zeller in an entrepreneurship class during the fall 2011 semester. "And what I mean by that is he's got a really good perspective on what's important in life. It seems like he really believes doing things the right way for the right reasons, treating people with respect and working hard."

Zeller has led with a more vocal approach this season.

"I've been through a lot of leadership courses," Zeller said, "and it's something they always tell you - that you have to step into it. You can't be forcing yourself into it. I think I've tried, but at the same time I try not to force it upon people. And if they listen to me, that's great, if not, that's what coach Williams is for."

"He's definitely become a much more vocal leader (in) his senior year," said sophomore forward Harrison Barnes. "You know, I think that's just experience, playing better, things like that. Now he's really developed and embraced that role of being the senior leader for this team."

Zeller has taken on more of a leadership role as the season has progressed.

Said Roy Williams: "When he's out on the court in practice, and something's not going well, he will say something. It's in a definitive tone. It's not, 'Come on, guys.' It's not, 'Boys will be boys.' It's, 'Hey, guys, let's get our blankety-blanks together and go do it the right way.'"

NBA executives have had mixed reactions to Kendall Marshall.

Marshall has posted a very solid 3.7:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, but lacks next level athleticism.

"It just depends on what you want your point guard to do," one GM said. "There are so many hybrid guards that are succeeding in the league that everyone wants the next Derrick Rose. But I think there's a place for guys like Marshall. He makes everyone better. He's a leader. We love him. But he's not for everyone."

At least one NBA general manager has not been overly impressed so far by the potential 2012 draft class.

"Everyone talks about how great this draft is," one NBA GM said. "On paper in July, it really looked that way. On the ground in February, I'm not that impressed. Anthony Davis is great. But after that, there are a lot of question marks and a surprising lack of depth. I'm not sure that the 2012 draft will be better than the 2011 one."

North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, Baylor’s Perry Jones, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger, and Kentucky’s Terrence Jones have failed to show significant improvement from one season to the next while UConn's Andre Drummond and Duke’s Austin Rivers have failed to live up to the hype that surrounded them.

Only two freshmen, Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Indiana's Cody Zeller, have exceeded expectations.

John Henson has blocked 262 shots during his three seasons at North Carolina, only 39 behind Brendan Haywood, who blocked 304 shots during his four seasons with the Tar Heels.

"I take a lot of pride in blocking shots," Henson said. "It's what I do to help the team - blocking shots and rebounding. That's one thing that we got (is) scorers, but shot-blocking and defending is something that this team needs, and something I really try to do."

Henson, who averages 3.2 blocks per game, could set the school record by the end of the season. Roy Williams said Henson possesses two traits that make him a special shot-blocker: timing and discipline.

"You have to have great timing," Williams said. "You have to be willing to have great discipline to stay on the floor on the first pump fake, to stay on the floor in the second pump fake and wait until the shot does go up. Because so many shot-blockers can stay in foul trouble if they jump up in the air and foul the guy on the first pump fake.

"We do try to do coach it, but it's a skill and an ability that I think is natural to some kids and not natural to other kids," Williams said. "And to John, it is very natural and something he enjoys doing."

Harrison Barnes will enter the NBA draft if North Carolina wins the national championship.

"The goal is to win a national championship, so, if you do that, it’s a no-brainer," Barnes said. "Our goal is just to win the national championship. I feel like this team, if we continue to mature, we have a great shot. And if that happens, then that’s all she wrote."

Barnes was projected as a lottery pick in last year's draft, but said he has no regrets about remaining in school.

"Not at all," said Barnes, who has raised his scoring average to 17.7 per game. "Especially when I saw the schedule, how many days they're playing three games in a row (over three nights). That’s crazy. I love college basketball. To be able to start on time and be able to go out and play on the aircraft carrier (in North Carolina’s Nov. 11 game against Michigan State onboard the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego) and do those kind of great things, I don’t regret it whatsoever."

He indicated he will leave open his option to return if the Tar Heels don’t win it all.

Harrison Barnes thinks his height advantage will prove decisive when North Carolina meets Duke on Wednesday night.

“I like that matchup,” said Barnes referring to Blue Devils guards Austin Rivers and Andre Dawkins. “ Offensively, I like my odds with somebody 6-4 against me.”

Rivers offered his own take on going head-to-head with Barnes.

“He might not be fun to match up with, but it’s not fun to match up with me, either,’’ the freshman said. “He’s going to have to guard me, too.”

Kendall Marshall is studying tape of his predecessor at the point, Ty Lawson, to prepare for Duke.

"I feel like he was at his best and Carolina was at their best when he was able to get in the paint and make plays," Marshall said.

Lawson scored 25 points against the Blue Devils as a junior, leading UNC to a 101-87 win.

Harrison Barnes practiced between 20 and 25 minutes on Monday and reported no setbacks on his left ankle as the Tar Heels prepare to face Duke on Wednesday.

"My ankle's great, and I'll be ready to go against Duke," Barnes said during a guest appearance on coach Roy Williams' radio show.

Barnes sprained his left ankle during a win at Wake Forest last week, then re-sprained it in a close win against Maryland on Saturday. Barnes finished with 18 points and made two important shots during the second half of the come-from-behind victory over the Terps.

"I think he showed some big-time toughness," coach Roy Williams said.

Nerlens Noel is considering a number of schools, including Syracuse, Kentucky, Florida, Georgetown and North Carolina. Noel, who recently reclassified to 2012, is expected to be at the Syracuse-Connecticut game at the Carrier Dome on Saturday.

Syracuse is hoping freshman Michael Carter-Williams may help sway Noel to commit to them.

"He’s one of my best friends," Carter-Williams said. "We’ve been playing AAU ball together since my sophomore year of high school. I just knew him from around. Then, after, we played on the same AAU team. We just hung out with each other all summer and he comes to my house all of the time.” 

Carter-Williams has spoken to Noel many times about his recruiting process, including playing for the Orange.

"He knows I want him to come here, definitely," Carter-Williams said. "But I’m not treating him any differently, to try to convince him to come here. At the end of the day, he’s going to go where he wants."