
The win enabled legendary coach Kevin Boyle, who won five New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles at St. Patrick’s, to emerge with the win in the first of three games in the Garden State this weekend. “I mean, we should’ve won by more,” the 6-foot-7 Barrett, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, told me after scoring 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. “We’re the better team. but it’s a tough team. They’re playing in front of their home crowd and we had to win this one for Coach Boyle.” Barrett seemed bothered by the physicality and defense of Roselle Catholic. At one point, the 6-foot-11 Reid walked past Barrett during a stoppage and bumped him as they crossed paths. Barrett had just six points after three quarters and Roselle Catholic stretched the lead to 52-45 midway through the fourth. “He didn’t play his normal game,” Boyle told me. “We have traveled a lot, not to make excuses, but our energy level wasn’t where it should be. To Roselle Catholic’s credit, they played with really good passion and good energy, so coach [Dave Boff] did a good job with them. And our guys made a great comeback, they didn’t quit.”RJ Barrett just TOOK OVER to give Montverde the DUB ? @RjBarrett6 @MVABasketball @MetroClassic pic.twitter.com/inOmKh06a9
— Overtime (@overtime) February 10, 2018
Boyle, who has coached five top-3 draft picks in Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, D’Angelo Russell and Joel Embiid, said Barrett is another special player in that line. “I think the great players, even when they don’t play their best, play their best when the game’s on the line,” Boyle said. “So again, he picked it up at the key moments, made the big steal, the big and-one and the rest is history.” Barrett is part of the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, a class that includes the top three players in the Class of 2018 in Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish, as well as point guard Tre Jones.RJ Barrett gotta walk it out like that ? @RjBarrett6 @MetroClassic pic.twitter.com/rfHk2SWtLW
— Overtime (@overtime) February 10, 2018
Barrett and Montverde must turn around and face Gill St. Bernard on Saturday afternoon before taking on Christ the King on Sunday. CTK is coming off a 61-58 win over rival Archbishop Molloy on Friday night at Molloy. FREE THROWS St. John’s assistant Matt Abdelmassih was on hand for Whitney and Montverde prep forward Josh Roberts, a Class of 2018 St. John’s signee who did not play because of illness. After St. John’s plays Marquette on Saturday, Abdelmassih plans to watch the game between the Patrick School and St. Benedict’s Prep at the Primetime Shootout. The Red Storm are recruiting Class of 2019 guys Precious Achiuwa and Lester Quinones of St. Ben’s…Maryland assistant Kevin Broadus watched 2019 Terps commit Makhi Mitchell score nine points, including a big second-half dunk. Maryland is also involved for 6-9 uncommitted Class of 2018 Roselle Catholic forward Alanzo Frink, who recently added an offer from St. Bonaventure….Assistants from Monmouth and FDU were also on hand.SOMEONE GO GET KAHLIL WHITNEY ? @KahlilWhitney @MetroClassic pic.twitter.com/m0pU3KQPe6
— Overtime (@overtime) February 10, 2018