R.J. Barrett Hosts Duke's Coach K, Jeff Capel at Montverde, cuts Arizona, Michigan (UPDATED) | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Thursday / March 28.
  • R.J. Barrett Hosts Duke’s Coach K, Jeff Capel at Montverde, cuts Arizona, Michigan (UPDATED)

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    Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and associate head coach Jeff Capel met Wednesday at Montverde (FL) Academy with R.J. Barrett, the 6-foot-7 wing who is expected to be in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and his father Rowan Barrett, the head of Canada Basketball, sources told ZAGSBLOG.

    Barrett also cut Arizona from his list and will not visit Michigan for his final official visit, sources told ZAGSBLOG. The Michigan news was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.

    Barrett confirmed in a Tweet on Saturday that he was down three schools.

    Multiple sources said Duke remains the frontrunner for Barrett, who took the second of his official visits to Duke earlier this month. He has also visited Kentucky, Arizona and Oregon.

    “Obviously, they want me to come in and be a part of the team, be one of the main guys and let me play and just do what I do,” Barrett told ZAGSBLOG after his Duke visit.

    Barrett grew up watching a lot of Duke games, along with Kentucky, where he took his first official two weeks ago.

    “I watched Duke and Kentucky a lot growing up because they’re always on TV and they’re the best programs,” he said. “And I want to be the best.”

    Barrett figures to be in the mix for the No. 1 pick in 2019 wherever he goes, but he’s aware that Duke regularly sends players to the lottery and the NBA Draft in general.

    “Oh for sure they can get guys to the league,” he said of Duke. “They know what they’re doing, they just a great program. All these years, they’ve been a great program.”

    Kevin Boyle, Barrett’s high school coach, says he should be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

    “He’s right in that class [with the other top picks I have coached],” Boyle said of Barrett on The 4 Quarters Podcast. “Most of the guys [who become superstars] are all those wing guys that end up better in these drafts over the years. That’s why I’m saying he should be the number one pick in two years.”

     

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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