R. J. Barrett

R. J. Barrett
No. 5 – Duke Blue Devils
Position Small forward
League Atlantic Coast Conference
Personal information
Born (2000-06-14) June 14, 2000
Toronto, Ontario
Nationality Canadian
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school
College Duke (2018–present)
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Canada
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
2017 EgyptNational team
FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship
2015 ArgentinaNational team

Rowan Alexander "R. J." Barrett Jr.[1] (born June 14, 2000) is a Canadian basketball player for the Duke Blue Devils of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). A native of Mississauga, he attended St. Marcellinus Secondary School in his hometown. He finished his high school career at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, where he was considered a five-star recruit and the consensus top recruit in his class, earning Naismith Prep Player of the Year and Gatorade National Player of the Year accolades. He has represented Canada in international competition, most notably winning the gold medal and MVP at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.

High school career

Barrett attended the French language school École Secondaire Jeunes Sans Frontières in Brampton, Ontario until 2014. He then attended St. Marcellinus Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario until 2015, when he decided to further his basketball career by transferring to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida.[2][3] He earned Most Valuable Player honours at the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic International Game, after tallying 22 points and eight assists in the contest.[4]

In February 2017, he received MVP distinction at Basketball Without Borders during the NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans.[5] Barrett was a member of the World Select Team at the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit, netting nine points in 20 minutes of play, while tallying two assists and steals.[6]

He received scholarship offers from several major universities including Arizona, Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, UCLA and USC, according to ESPN. Speaking to nbadraft.net in April 2017, Roy Rana, who coached Barrett at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 World Cup and at the Nike Hoop Summit, was quoted as saying about Barrett: "A star. A potential superstar down the road."[7]

In March 2018, Barrett was awarded the prestigious Morgan Wooten National Player of the Year award for "displaying outstanding character, showing leadership and embodying the values of a student athlete."[8] One of the ways Barrett exhibited these attributes was by being involved in the Basketball Buddies Program of Montverde Academy, where he was in charge of mentoring young basketball athletes with their basketball skills, as well as their advising them on how to manage their academics.[9]

In the 2017-18 season, he led the undefeated Montverde team to the Geico National boy's basketball championship, recording 25 points and 15 rebounds in the championship game.[10]

Barrett scored a game-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds, six assists and five steals at the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit and was named MVP.[11]

Recruiting

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
R. J. Barrett
SF		 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Montverde Academy (FL), St. Marcellinus Secondary School (ON), École Secondaire Jeunes sans Frontières (ON) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Nov 10, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 96
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 1   Rivals: 1  247Sports: 1  ESPN: 1
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Duke 2018 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  • "R. J. Barrett". 247sports.com. Retrieved June 30, 2018.

College career

On August 16, 2017, Barrett narrowed down to five schools: Duke, Arizona, Oregon, Kentucky, and Michigan.[12] On November 10, 2017, he announced that he would be attending Duke for the 2018-2019 season.[13] Commenting on his decision, he said: "It feels like home. And obviously they have a great coach ... I love Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski). I've been watching Duke since I was really young."[14] Barrett made his preseason debut for Duke on August 15, 2018 in an 86–67 win over Canadian college Ryerson, scoring 34 points and collecting 5 rebounds while shooting 11-of-29 from the field.[15]

International career

Barrett was the youngest player on Canada’s under-16 national team that won silver at the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, in Argentina. Pouring in 14.6 points a contest, he led his team in scoring during the tournament.[16]

He averaged 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game at the 2016 FIBA U17 World Cup, in Spain, en route to eurobasket.com's All-World Cup U17 Second Team honours.[17][18]

In July 2017, Barrett made headlines with a 38-point, 13-rebound, and 5-assist showing as he guided Canada's under-19 squad to a 99–87 semifinal win over the US at the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.[19] At the time, Northpolehoops.com described this performance as Barrett's "biggest game of his career so far".[20] He subsequently led Canada to the title, tallying game-highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game against Italy, and was named to the tournament's All-Star Five and also the tournament Most Valuable Player.[21][22] Averaging 21.6 points a game, he was also the leading scorer of the tournament.[23]

Personal life

His father, Rowan Barrett, played college basketball at St. John's University before embarking on a professional career which he mostly spent in Europe.[24] He represented Canada’s men’s national team at the 2000 Olympic Games and the 1998 and 2002 FIBA World Championships. In 2004, Rowan Sr. was named Guard of the Year of the French top-flight LNB Pro A (by eurobasket.com).[25] After his playing career, his father became executive vice president and assistant general manager of Canada Basketball.[26] R.J.’s mother Kesha was a sprinter on St. John’s track and field team.[27]

R. J. is the godson of former Canadian basketball player Steve Nash.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "R.J. Barrett Bio". GoDuke.com. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  2. ↑ Sentinel, Jeff Gardenour | Orlando. "Soph sensation R.J. Barrett leads Montverde". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  3. ↑ "Canada's Top Prospect Rowan Barrett Jr. Heading to Montverde Academy". Tip of the Tower. 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  4. ↑ Colpitts, Iain (2016-04-18). "Barrett steals the show at Jordan Brand Classic | Mississauga.com". Mississauga.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  5. ↑ "R.J. Barrett carries the weight of Canadian basketball on his shoulders". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  6. ↑ "Nike Hoop Summit". Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  7. ↑ "2017 Nike Hoop Summit: World Team Recap | NBADraft.net". www.nbadraft.net. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  8. ↑ "McDonald's All American Games Announces The 2018 Morgan Wootten Player Of The Year Award Winners". Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  9. ↑ "RJ Barrett Named 2018 Morgan Wootten Player Of The Year". SLAMonline. 3 weeks ago. Retrieved 2018-04-04. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ↑ "R.J. Barrett, Montverde Academy add 'cherry on top' with GEICO Nationals crown - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  11. ↑ "Canada Basketball". www.basketball.ca. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  12. ↑ "New No. 1 recruit R.J. Barrett announces list of 5 finalists". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  13. ↑ "Canada's top-ranked prospect Barrett chooses Duke - Article - TSN". TSN. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  14. ↑ "Duke Recruiting RJ Barrett Will Be A Blue Devil". Duke Basketball Report. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  15. ↑ Boone, Kyle (August 16, 2018). "Duke's Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett lead Blue Devils to exhibition rout of Ryerson". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  16. ↑ "FIBA AMERICAS". www.fibaamericas.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  17. ↑ "Rowan Barrett profile, FIBA U17 World Championship 2016 | FIBA.COM". FIBA.COM. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  18. ↑ "World Championships U17 Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  19. ↑ "Canada slay USA dragon to reach historic Final". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  20. ↑ "R.J. Barrett shakes the world in Canada's historic win over USA". Northpolehoops.com. 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  21. ↑ "Canada routs Italy to capture gold at FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  22. ↑ "Barrett named MVP after winning Canada's first U19 title". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  23. ↑ "Players statistics of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 - FIBA.basketball". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  24. ↑ "Poster Boy: Rowan Barrett Jr. Rising - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  25. ↑ "Canada Basketball". basketball.ca. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  26. ↑ "R.J. Barrett back home where education comes before basketball - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  27. ↑ "R.J. Barrett, Andrew Nembhard and Canada Basketball's Golden Age". Ozark Sports Zone. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  28. ↑ "R.J. Barrett could be the future face of Canadian basketball". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
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