BY KAYLA KARIM
Canadian born RJ Barrett made his return home last week to play in an arena he has always dreamed of playing in.
On Wednesday November 27th the Toronto Raptors hosted the New York Knicks for the first time this season and rookie RJ Barrett was nothing short of excited. Barrett was almost sidelined due to illness but he told reporters that he couldn’t miss the game and that he had to play for everybody he loves.
RJ was born in Toronto and attended school in Mississauga where he lived with his parents. Because his father, Rowan Barrett was a professional basketball player himself, RJ moved around a lot. At an early age he developed a love for basketball and was able to shoot around after his dad’s games and practices. After living in France for a while, the Barrett family moved back to Mississauga, Ontario in 2008 where RJ began to really focus on the sport he loved – basketball.
As years progressed, Barrett became very skilled in the game. Not only did he become one of the best under-12 players in the province of Ontario but also leading his high school team to a city title where he was named MVP. In 2015 while still in high school, RJ was invited to the Region of Peel Secondary Schools Athletic Association (ROPSSAA) All-Star game where he was recognized as the best prospect in the association.
When the dream of being an NBA star started to look more like a reality, Barrett toured schools in the United States eventually transferring to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida for their decorated basketball program. While winning various MVP awards and setting new records for him throughout high school, Barrett caught the attention of many universities in the United States but only one caught his eye. Early November of 2017, Barrett announced that he would be attending Duke saying, “It feels like home. And obviously they have a great coach… I love coach K. I’ve been watching Duke since I was really young.”
The work did not stop in college for the young superstar. Barrett continued to set personal records along with awarding the team with victories and eventually helping to lead Duke to the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
It wasn’t a surprise when RJ Barrett announced that he was going to forget his final three seasons of college and declare for the NBA Draft in 2019. The nineteen year old was drafted third overall by the New York Knicks where he has gotten a taste of the big leagues.
So back at home in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena, where it seems like Barrett’s story came full circle, the Canadian kid was welcomed with a standing ovation and was said to have over a hundred family and friends in attendance. Although RJ and the Knicks didn’t leave with a victory, Barrett showed both the Canadian and American fans what he can achieve when he realizes his full potential.
