Schools Begin to Contact R.J. Barrett, No. 1 in 2019

R.J. Barrett, the No. 1 prospect in the 2019 class, began to hear from colleges at midnight on Wednesday.

And predictably a Who’s Who of Division 1 programs reached out.

Arizona, UCLA, USC, Kentucky, Texas, Kansas, UNLV, South Carolina, Illinois, Duke, Oregon and Michigan all reached out.

The 6-foot-6 Barrett is considering reclassifying to 2018, which would make him eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft.

“Right now, I don’t know,” Barrett told ZAGSBLOG recently when asked about joining the Class of 2018. “Right now I’m still 2019 and I will make a decision in August.”

MIXTAPE of RJ Barrett tearing up @HoopfestUSA ?? @ball6islife @MVABasketball pic.twitter.com/1BS9eCQuy1

— Overtime (@overtime) January 23, 2017

Michigan’s John Beilein, Texas’ Shaka Smart, Arizona’s Sean Miller and Duke’s Jeff Capel were among a throng of coaches watching him at the Nike EYBL stop in Indianapolis this spring.

He also has a connection to Kentucky via fellow Canadian Jamal Murray, now with the Denver Nuggets.

“I don’t really know much more (about Kentucky) than what I see on TV,” Barrett said. “Jamal is one of my friends and to watch him play for Kentucky was something special. He said he loved it. It helped him get to The League, so he’s thankful.

“To be honest, not really. I haven’t really looked at any schools. I’m just trying to get better as a basketball player, and wherever I end up, I end up.”

Barrett is now trying out for the Canadian U19 team for the upcoming FIBA World Championship in Egypt. Kentucky-bound guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander announced he won’t play with the Canadian team at the event.