MONTVERDE’S R.J. BARRETT NAMED GATORADE NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Celtics’ Forward and Former Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year Jayson Tatum Surprises Winner with Honor
Who: R.J. Barrett
2017-2018 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year
- The 6-foot-7, 200-pound senior guard has led the Eagles to a 32-0 record and the No. 1 spot in the USA Today Super 25 Expert Rankings.
- Barrett has averaged 28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, two blocks and 1.5 steals a game for the Eagles
- A McDonald’s All-American, Naismith Trophy winner and the No. 1 prospect in the country according to the ESPN 100, Barrett starred last summer for Canada’s U19 team and led that squad to its first FIBA World Championship medal.
- Barrett has volunteered locally with the Montverde Lower School Basketball Buddies program, the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and on behalf of the South Lake Church of Christ in Clermont, Fla.
- Barrett has maintained a 3.14 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at Duke University this fall.
Background: The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track and field; and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field.
For 33 years, Gatorade has honored more than 15,000 State Players of the Year and 290 National Players of the Year. That list includes many of today’s top professional athletes, such as Peyton Manning, Karl-Anthony Towns, Maya Moore, Jabari Parker, Kerri Walsh and Andrew Wiggins. For more information, visit PlayerOfTheYear.Gatorade.com
