RJ Barrett: The King of the North
As much as it pains my UNC loving fingers to type this RJ Barrett will be the best College basketball player we’ve seen in 5 years. In his first game in his hometown Mississauga, Canada Barrett put on a clinic. Actually he put on a clinic, burned it down to create a major University hospital system only to bomb it like the Joker in a nurses outfit. RJ scored 34 points points effortlessly, and threw a one handed off the dribble lob to his teammate Zion Williamson. While Williamson is better known for his Youtube demigod status RJ has the greater hoops pedigree. His father Rowan Barrett played College basketball for St. John’s and his godfather is none other than two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash. Needless to say Barrett is in good hands.
In an age where 5 year olds are nationally ranked it can be difficult to separate the physical specimens from the true ballers. Even Williamson is a bit of an unknown on the pro level due to his lack of consistency shooting. While NBA teams love to draft strong athletic guys the true stars always possess an uncanny degree of skill. Only one player in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game would be considered a “Will player” On the Jalen Rose Skill/Will player continuum. (Andre Drummond) Yet, time and again players are drafted under the pretense that they will develop superior skills due to their physical abilities. Rarely happens. Enter Rowan Barrett Jr. A kid that trained with NBA pros this summer and didn’t just blend in, he balled.
I won’t fall into the comparison trap here and tell you “RJ Barret is the next Kobe Bryant on my Mama n’em.” However, I will say this kid could be an All-Star in the East right now. (Still hyperbole although only slightly) Barrett possesses a 6’ 10” wingspan, cat-like quickness, an effortless finishing ability, and he can shoot. Most of his critics say he doesn’t have a skill that stands out but I would disagree. Barrett’s greatest skill is his competitiveness. NBA analyst Jay Williams said Barrett possesses “next level competitivess.” (Sidebar you should watch his web series Best Shot. [Side sidebar. Lebron produces some great series. Maybe his Trump beef motivates him to make great TV. He probably lifts weights and thinks “All my shows are better than The Apprentice.”]) Barring injury Barrett will be the first to shake Adam Silvers hand in July, because he won’t allow anyone to take that from him.