R. J. Barrett leads Canada to win over China at Pacific Rim Basketball Classic
VANCOUVER — Teenager R. J. Barrett scored 16 points and had a pair of assists in his first game with the national men’s basketball team as Canada defeated a team from China 97-62 Friday night in the opening game of the Pacific Rim Basketball Classic.
There were some questions about how Barrett would adapt to playing against bigger and stronger senior players, but the game had barely started before the 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., showed the crowd at Rogers Arena he belonged on the court.
On the opening possession the six-foot-seven guard moved the ball down the crowd, drove the basketball and scored on a falling layup. Later in the quarter he had the fans on their feet with a two-handed dunk on a fast break.
Barrett looked calm and in control whenever he had the ball. He moved the ball well, directed players where he wanted them to go and was comfortable on defence.