There are a lot of hopes riding on R.J. Barrett, the No. 1-ranked recruit and Toronto native on the cusp of beginning his tenure with Duke University. After college — and if all goes as planned, he’ll likely be a one-and-done prospect — he’ll be bound for the NBA, most likely as a top pick.
Barrett is already being anointed as “the most decorated prospect since LeBron James” by SLAM Magazine, which featured the young Canadian star on the cover of their latest issue.
Of course, when Barrett was presented with the cover in person for the first time, it was only fitting that Zion Williamson — another member of Duke’s star-studded recruiting class — surprised him.
In SLAM’s cover story, Barrett discusses his early exposure to Canadian basketball, as well as his hopes for what the country can accomplish in the international game going forward. There is, of course, what he hopes to accomplish with Duke this season, but his sights are set beyond that.
“Five years from now, we’ll have a strong group of guys for the Canadian National Team... I think we could form a pretty good team. I feel like NBA players are going to have to get cut because there is going to be so many of us. We’ll just see what the future holds.” —R.J. Barrett
Duke will open its season in a rivalry game against Kentucky on November 6th.
