Top 2018 NCAA prospect R.J. Barrett recently committed to join Duke Basketball. What will his addition mean for the Blue Devils next season?
For the third straight year, Duke will add the No. 1-ranked recruit in the incoming freshman class. Even though it’s still very early in the current college basketball season, we take a look at what impact R.J. Barrett can have next year.
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Joining a 2018 recruiting class with 5-star recruits PG Tre Jones and SF Cameron Reddish, Barrett’s commitment means Duke will most likely have the top freshman class in the country again next season. These three players will be able to step in immediately and fill the void left by Grayson Allen, Trevon Duval, and Gary Trent, Jr., who are all expected to leave after this season.
Expect the Blue Devils to have another extremely talented and young team next year. Over the summer, Barrett reclassified from the class of 2019 to 2018. The Canadian forward plans to graduate a year early and begin his college basketball career next season, with hopes of being a top draft pick in 2019.
The main strength of Barrett is perimeter scoring. He’s been able to dominate in high school and international play, drawing comparisons to NBA star James Harden and being described as a “professional scorer”. His AAU coach for UPlay Canada also had great things to say about the 6-7 small forward and impact he could have on a team:
"“When he’s on the court, the guys with him are going to enjoy playing with him…the impact he can have to make it fun for the other stars on the court. He’s a giver. I can see him with the ball in his hands. You want him with the ball in his hands, so he can make the play or pass, and he can rebound. He’s shown the ability to be a willing assist guy, a willing defense guy. He’s selfless.”"
Next: How Should We Evaluate The Freshmen This Basketball Season
R.J. Barrett’s recent commitment may also help attract more top 2018 recruits. The Blue Devils are still targeting several major prospects, most notably 5-star forward Zion Williamson. Duke Basketball fans should be extremely excited about this season, but also have a lot to look forward to next year.