NCAA Basketball: 8 bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

By Brian Rauf | Nov 4, 2018

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels mascot celebrates in the confetti after defeatin ghte Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

2) R.J. Barrett will win National Player of the Year

Only two true freshmen, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis, have ever won National Player of the Year. I think R.J. Barrett is poised to become the third.

Barrett is currently splitting the spotlight at Duke – Zion Williamson is a human highlight reel and Cam Reddish has drawn comparisons to Tracy McGrady – but he’s going to get plenty of shine once he takes the court.

There isn’t anything that Barrett can’t do. He’s a dynamite scorer (28.7 ppg as a senior at Montverde Academy) who can score from anywhere on the court and is also a great rebounder and underrated playmaker. Barrett averaged nearly 11 rebounds per game on the Nike EYBL circuit, a skill of heightened importance because of Duke’s lack of size. He has recorded 21 assists in the five games he has played in a Duke uniform. Plus, he has all of the physical gifts at 6-7 and 202 pounds to match up with anyone on the perimeter

The National Player of the Year race is wide open and the player who usually wins in the best player on one of the best teams. Duke certainly is that and Barrett is the most talented player in the country – he’s the projected No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft for a reason.

He’ll have plenty of chances to wow given Duke’s national profile and I expect a player of his caliber and track record (he led Canada to their first-ever men’s basketball gold medal) to take full advantage.

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