The plaudits keep coming for R.J. Barrett.
A day after the 17-year-old was named Florida's 2017-18 Gatorade State Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Barrett went one better by claiming the 2018 Naismith National High School Boys’ Player of the Year award.
Barrett, a native of Mississauga, Ont., is the second Canadian to receive the Atlanta Tipoff Club's annual award, given to the best basketball player in a United States high school. Current Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins of Vaughan, Ont., won the Naismith award in 2013 while attending Huntington Prep School in West Virginia.
After a dominant season at @MVABasketball, @RjBarrett6 becomes the second Canadian ever to earn the @NaismithTrophy High School Player of the Year award. 🙌#WeAreTeamCanada pic.twitter.com/QA8VLI7bNP
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) March 9, 2018
Barrett has led Montverde Academy to a perfect 31-0 record this season, with the team set to take part in the High School Basketball National Tournament later this month.
“It is an honour to receive the Naismith Player of the Year award,” Barrett said in a statement. “I want to thank God, my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the Montverde community, as well as all the people who voted for me.”
Barrett was the MVP of the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup, where he led Canada to its first ever international championship. The son of former professional player Rowan Barrett, R.J. has committed to Duke University in the fall.