Duke basketball: Another Blue Devil confirmed to participate in Olympics

Another former Duke basketball player will be taking the court in the Summer Olympics. 

The Summer Olympics will have a Blue Devil feel on the basketball court as another former Duke basketball star will be taking the floor in Tokyo in the coming weeks.

Current New York Knick and Canadian superstar RJ Barrett is officially on the Canadian Men’s Basketball Olympic roster as the young phenom further cemented himself as one of the top high school prospects with his victory over the United States in the FIBA U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup in June of 2018.

Barrett posted 38 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in Canada’s 99-87 semifinal win over the US in the FIBA U19 Championships and averaged 21.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in Canada’s gold medal run.

RJ Barrett also averaged 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists at the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championships as the Canadians finished in fifth. But the Mississauga, Ontario native averaged 14.6 points during the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championships as Canada captured the silver medal.

ALSO READ: Duke hopeful draftees struggle on court at NBA Draft Combine

In his second season with the Knicks, Barrett helped New York reach the postseason for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

The former Blue Devil played in all 72 games for the Knicks in the shortened season and posted 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game on 44.1-percent shooting from the field and 40.1-percent from 3-point range.

RJ Barrett headlines the Team Canada roster alongside former No. 1 overall pick and current Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins.

Duke basketball already with one former player heading to Tokyo

RJ Barrett becomes the second former Blue Devil to head to the Olympics this summer as Jayson Tatum was named to the roster for the United States of America.

Tatum also had a long history with his country’s national team, winning gold medals at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship, 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship and 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.

ALSO READ: Unlikely final Blue Devils in playoffs hoping to make impact

The Boston Celtics star forward also was on the 2019 USA World Cup Team that finished in a disappointing seventh place.

The Summer Olympics begin on Friday, July 23 while the men’s basketball competition is set to begin on Sunday, July 25.