Now that R.J. Barrett has reclassified to the Class of 2018, he is zeroing in on his recruitment.
The 6-foot-7 wing from Montverde (FL) Academy on Wednesday listed his final five schools as Arizona, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan and Oregon. His father, Rowan Barrett, told ZAGSBLOG that no visits have yet been set. Barrett is currently playing at the Nike Academy in Los Angeles.
I want to thank all the schools that have recruited me.. these are my top 5 in alphabetical order. Haven’t figured out any visits yet. pic.twitter.com/hID9BVGWUg
— Rj Barrett (@RjBarrett6) August 16, 2017
RJ BarrettDICK’s High School NationalsMontverde Academy EaglesWatch video on Overtime
Kevin Boyle, Barrett’s high school coach, says he should be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
“He’s right in that class [with the other top picks I have coached],” Boyle said of Barrett on The 4 Quarters Podcast. “Most of the guys [who become superstars] are all those wing guys that end up better in these drafts over the years. That’s why I’m saying he should be the number one pick in two years.”
Boyle, a former Naismith National Coach of the Year award winner, has coached multiple former top-3 NBA picks, including Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Michael Kidd-Gilchrest, Joel Embiid, and D’Angelo Russell.
Barrett was named MVP of the FIBA U19 World Cup last month after leading Canada to its first-ever gold medal. He then took the rest of July off before announcing his decision to reclass.
Boyle said Barrett’s game is tailor-made for the NBA.
“[Today’s NBA is about] spreading the floor and shooters are leaving the lane open,” Boyle said. “If you can shoot, you’re getting a ton of money and it really opens the floor for a slicer, driver like R.J.”
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