NBA Draft: 4 prospects worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick
By Kyle Crabbe
RJ Barrett
Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
College: Duke
HT: 6-7 (Wingspan 6-9)
WT: 210 Lbs
Skill Grades
Offense: 9/10
Defense: 8/10
Size/ Physical Abilities: 9/10
Potential: 9/10
Potential Status: Franchise Star
Pro Player Comparisons: Grant Hill, DeMar DeRozan
Strengths: True Offensive Playmaker, Defensive Versatility, Big Moment Player, Ultra-Aggressive Competitor
Duke’s star freshman RJ Barrett is a high-level prospect that entered the 2019 college season as the No. 1 high school player in the country. Due to his teammate’s Zion Williamson, he has been somewhat overshadowed. However, make no mistake about it, Barrett is still the best overall basketball prospect in the upcoming 2019 NBA Draft.
Barrett is held up as Canada’s greatest basketball prodigy and stands out as a rare supremely talented basketball prospect with excellent basketball pedigree as his godfather is former NBA two-time MVP Steve Nash and the son of international professional basketball player and St. John’s Basketball Alumni Rowan Barrett.
What makes Barrett the top choice for the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft is he checks all the boxes as this year’s top prospect. Barrett has dominated his peers over the past several years and this year at Duke hasn’t slowed Barrett’s progress. Barrett totaled averages in 38 games: 22.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 4.3 APG. For playing that well and help leading Duke to a top seed and deep tournament run earned Barrett the USA Sports NCAA Player of the Year award over the likes of teammate Zion Williamson and Murray State’s Ja Morant.
Barrett projects well in the NBA and is worthy of being selected No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. In terms of a modern player currently still in the NBA, Barrett’s game plays a lot like DeMar DeRozan. I believe Barrett has the potential to become a franchise star in the NBA and his potential floor is that of he will still be a good player that can make an All-Star game or two.