TORONTO - Rising Canada star RJ Barrett has received another prestigious accolade after being named the 2018 Naismith High School Boys' Player of the Year.

The MVP of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 in Egypt, the tournament ended up serving as a launchpad for an amazing campaign at Montverde Academy. He led the Florida high school powerhouse to several tournament titles, including the IYBS Invitational (Beijing, China), Iolani Classic (Honolulu, Hawaii), Beach Ball Classic (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina), Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Massachusetts) and Metro Classic (Union, New Jersey). Barrett was the MVP of each tournament.

When he played for Canada in Egypt last summer, Barrett averaged 21.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.7 steals while leading his homeland to its first-ever title in the competition.

Another Canada international, Andrew Wiggins, was the Naismith High School Boys' Player of the Year following his 2013 season at Huntington Prep in West Virginia. He is now a player with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The son of former Canada star Rowan Barrett, a member of the country's Olympic squad in 2000, RJ Barrett has decided to enroll at Duke University. He wants to finish up at Montverde with a bang first, however.

Montverde, who are undefeated, are expected to be the number one seed going into the eight-team Geico Nationals to be staged March 29-31 in New York City. Montverde captured the title in 2013, 2014 and 2015 when Australia's Ben Simmons was a player. Barrett has yet to win that title.

FIBA