Multiple reports and speculations have UNC freshman Harrison Barnes returning to Carolina for his sophomore season. One report is that Barnes will make the announcement by Thursday.

On Monday, ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt tweeted that he’s hearing Barnes will remain a member of Heels rather than than declaring for the 2011 NBA Draft, where he figured to be picked in the top five, perhaps as high as second or third.

Also on Monday, David Scercy of isportsweb.com says he has multiple sources indicating that Barnes will return. He writes, “Forwards Tyler Zeller and John Henson have already announced their return for the 2011-12 season. Now freshman forward Harrison Barnes will announce his return as well. Barnes is reportedly enrolling into summer classes at the University.”

Earlier, Barnes’ mother Shirley indicated to The Daily Tar Heel, the UNC student newspaper, that her son still had some goals in college that he wanted to fulfill, especially after being so disappointed that the Heels didn’t make the Final Four.

In fact, NBAdraft.net removed Barnes from their projected 2011 draft, where he was ranked second.

“I’m starting to hear more people that think he might actually go back (to UNC),” NBAdraft.net analyst Aaron Smith said. Right now it looks like a real possibility that he’ll be back, he added.