R.J. Barrett hoping Zion Williamson chooses Duke

By ADAM ZAGORIA

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Duke already has an embarrassment of riches in its 2018 recruiting class.

R.J. Barrett is the top-ranked player in the class, Cam Reddish is No. 3 and Tre Jones No. 10, per ESPN. Barrett and Reddish figure to both be in the mix for the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Zion Williamson, the No. 2-ranked player, is poised to announce his college choice on Saturday and Barrett hopes he picks the Blue Devils. The two have talked recently.

“Yeah, for sure, try to get him to come to Duke,” Barrett told me after going for 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists en route to Most Outstanding Player honors as unbeaten Montverde (FL) Academy, No. 1 in the USA Today poll, crushed Mater Dei (CA), 74-48, on Monday at the Hoophall Classic.

“I mean, we’ll have No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. [10] so that says it all right there.”

Ho hum. Another MVP for Duke bound @RjBarrett6 pic.twitter.com/u7dZNT6Qbn

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 15, 2018

The 6-foot-6 Williamson, who went for 36 points in a loss on Saturday night at the Hoophall, is considering Duke, Kentucky, Clemson, South Carolina, Kansas and North Carolina. Clemson has appeared to gain the most momentum of late.

Barrett said he’d understand if Williamson chose to stay home at Clemson.

“Definitely, it’s his decision so,” he said.

Barrett isn’t the only high-profile recruit hoping Williamson brings his talents to their future school.

Kentucky-bound point guard Immanuel Quickley is hoping Zion picks the Cats.

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