Canadian Barrett shines in Duke preseason debut
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Late in the first quarter of his college comingout party, Canadian basketball phenom R.J. Barrett veered around a Ryerson defender to throw down an emphatic dunk. He and teammate Zion Williamson celebrated with a chest bump that was almost as big.
Making his Duke debut in his virtual backyard, the electrifying 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., made his first game in a Blue Devils jersey a memorable one, scoring a game-high 34 points in an 86-67 pre-season victory over Canadian university’s Ryerson Rams.
“It was great to get to go out there with my brothers in my hometown. It was special for me,” Barrett said. “A lot of excitement, a little nervous with it being the first time wearing a Duke jersey.
“But for me, I got to see mom and dad in the crowd and everybody in Canada. It was cool.”
Williamson added 29 points and 13 rebounds, and Duke didn’t have another player in double figures as the two young stars provided a highlight-package preview of what should be a thrilling NCAA season to come.
“Those two kids . . . they’re all about winning — they get it,” said Duke’s Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Barrett certainly showed zero signs of first-game jitters, and on one particularly memorable play late in the third quarter, he found Williamson with a halfcourt lob for an alley-oop that brought the crowd to its feet.
“I don’t think he’s a kid that ever gets nervous and he’s never afraid but he’s excited. He’s proud,” Krzyzewski said. “He has represented Canada internationally and this is his home. He’s proud to be at Duke. And you want to play great.
“I thought he played really well but he’ll play even better as this moves along.”
NCAA rules permit teams to take an international trip once every four years, and the Blue Devils opted to head north for the first time in the program’s storied history. They’ll play the University of Toronto on Friday, then head to Montreal to face McGill on Sunday.
Fans were eager to catch a first glimpse of not only Barrett — the presumptive No. 1 pick in next spring’s NBA draft — but Duke’s top-ranked freshman class that includes Williamson and Cam Reddish, who are ranked Nos. 2 and 3 behind their Canadian teammate. Both games at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre sold out quickly. Wednesday’s affair was being streamed on ESPN.
Wednesday’s pro-Duke crowd included Portland sharpshooter and fellow Mississauga native Nik Stauskas.
Barrett is already being touted as perhaps the greatest player to come out of Canada. The six-footseven swingman won both the Gatorade Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year last season to help Florida’s Montverde Academy to an undefeated season and coveted U.S. high school title.