6. R.J. Barrett — F (Duke)
R.J. Barrett has been one of the most highly scouted prospects in college basketball. For much of the season, Barrett has lived up to all of the hype surrounding his name.
Of course, it isn’t easy for any player to excel when sharing the spotlight with multiple star athletes. Barrett has an interesting dilemma playing alongside talents such as Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish.
Still, Barrett has done enough to prove his worth as an extremely skilled combo guard. Standing at 6’7″ with the playmaking skills of a point guard, Barrett has been effective at running the offense for Duke, the tournament’s overall 1-seed.
In his freshman season, Barrett has averaged 22.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He has done a great job of offering consistent production and has occasionally been able to step out past the 3-point line and knock down some deep shots.
Barrett will likely be drafted in the top five this year, but he certainly has a lot to prove in this tournament. Following up a lackluster performance in the ACC Tournament, where he shot a combined 13-for-32 from the field in the last two games, Barrett will want to redeem himself with a stronger showing in March Madness.