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National Player of the Year rankings: Can RJ Barrett overtake Zion Williamson?

By Jacob Lane

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 12: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils warm up before the game against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 12, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Duke came from behind to win 71-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 12: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils warm up before the game against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 12, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Duke came from behind to win 71-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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SYRACUSE, NY – FEBRUARY 23: Marek Dolezaj #21 of the Syracuse Orange fouls RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils on a drive to the basket as head coach Jim Boeheim looks during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – FEBRUARY 23: Marek Dolezaj #21 of the Syracuse Orange fouls RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils on a drive to the basket as head coach Jim Boeheim looks during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

2. RJ Barrett – Duke

This week:

  • No. 20 Virginia Tech: 21 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists (L)
  • Miami: 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists (W) 

Season Stats: 23.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.2 apg 

If Williamson is No. 1 on this list, then RJ Barrett is No. 1A, that’s how close this race has become with Williamson being out with a knee injury over the last two weeks.

The barrier to moving Barrett up to the number one spot is the fact that Duke has gone 2-2 in the time that Zion has missed, with both losses coming to ranked teams.

It’s hard to expect Barrett to carry this Duke team, who outside of himself, Williamson and Cam Reddish just really aren’t that good. But if we’re talking about Player of the Year, that’s something the award winner should be able to do if asked.

Barrett turned in two impressive performances against  Virginia Tech, in a losing effort, and Miami. Against the Hokies, Barrett was 8-of-15 from the floor and a horrid 1-of-6 from deep, but his tenacious effort of attacking the basket sent him to the free throw line seven times, where he made four.

On Saturday against the depleted Miami Hurricanes, Barrett did everything from scoring, rebounding, and passing, flirting with a triple-double, which would’ve been his second of the season.

Duke might get Williamson back this week, and if he struggles to get back into the swing of things in the final week of the season and Barrett continues to dominate, don’t be shocked to see a switch at the top next Monday.