Video: High school highlights of R.J. Barrett
Barrett is averaging better than 28 points and 8 rebounds for No. 1 team in the country.R.J. Barrett and
Jayson Tatum have much in common.
Both were selected boys basketball Gatorade National Player of Year.
Tatum, in fact, presented the award late Thursday afternoon to the 6-foot-7 do-everything senior guard from
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).
Barrett is headed to Duke, where Tatum attended. So, it should be of little surprise both revealed Thursday that they filled out the same team at end of their March Madness bracket.
"I picked Duke," Tatum said.
Said Barrett, who watched the Blue Devils defeat Iona 89-67 on TV in a first-round Midwest Region game Thursday: "Who else?"
Asked if he would have taken time out of his busy schedule professional schedule away from the Celtics had Barrett signed with say, North Carolina, Tatum paused.
"I might have thought about it," he said with a laugh. "No, for sure. I would have. I remember when I got the award and Penny Hardaway surprised me. It was super exciting."
Boston Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum with Gatorade National Player of the Year R.J. Barrett of Montverde Academy.
Photo courtesy of Gatorade
The fact the Barrett and Tatum have Mike Krzyzewski as a mutual acquaintance, surely has bonded these two plenty.
Tatum called his season at Duke, the best year of his life. "I just told (Barrett) to enjoy it (going to college), but of course don't be satisfied. It's a long road."
Barrett has had a long, successful season after reclassifying during the summer. Rated the top player in the Class of 2019 by 247Sports last season, he immediately became the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2018.
A native of Canada — his godfather is Steve Nash — Barrett has always played against older kids and the move to 2018 certainly didn't slow him.
He's averaging 28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, two blocks and 1.5 steals a game for the 32-0 Eagles, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation.
"I think one of the biggest reasons was because of our undefeated season," Barrett said of winning the Gatorade award. "The coaching staff, the players make me better every day. Having that team success just solidified things."
Tatum, who won the award two seasons ago while playing for
Chaminade (St. Louis), said he's seen Barrett play more than once.
"He's a big guard, who can handle the ball," Tatum said. "He's a lot bigger and taller than the other point guards. He's big and athletic. He can shoot, pass, defend. He can just do it all."
Just as Tatum did in high school and at Duke. That's why he was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He's averaging 13.5 points per game and 5.0 rebounds again for the Celtics, and is a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.
Gatorade often sets up surprise visits from professional athletes when the award is presented.
"The award was thrilling by itself," Barrett said. "To receive it from Jayson Tatum is beyond words."
