5) R.J. Barrett, SF, Duke
Stats: 23.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.8 apg
LW: 4
Based solely on skill level, R.J. Barrett is the best player in the country. He can get to the rim whenever he wants, has shown good passing ability, is a great rebounder for a perimeter player, and has a decent enough jumper that opposing defenses have to respect.
All of those things are why he was projected to be the No. 1 pick at the start of the season. Barrett has shown all of those skills this year, but he has also shown some negatives that have dropped him to the projected No. 2 pick and to No. 5 on this list.
The biggest of those negatives? His inefficiency. He’s shooting less than 32 percent from deep, is averaging 2.7 turnovers per game, and has shot under 39 percent from the field in five of Duke’s 12 games.
Often times, his mistakes seem to be made when he forces the action and doesn’t take what the game is giving to him. He’ll throw up off-balance floaters with two defenders on him while not being square to the basket and often seems to pre-determine that he’s going to try to score rather than reading the defense. That leads to bad shots and turnovers, hence the inefficiency.
Barrett will stay in this race all season long. That’s how good he is. But he has a real chance to challenge Zion – and potentially overtake him – if he becomes more efficient (which will boost his numbers even more, which is scary).