Champion U19 basketball team gets hero's welcome home
Coaches, players all smiles after making history at FIBA tournament
R.J. Barrett couldn't help but take a friendly jab at his father when asked about his impact on his basketball career.
The 17-year-old son of Rowan Barrett — a former standout on Canada's men's basketball team — arrived at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Monday night with a gold medal around his neck from the FIBA under-19 World Cup in Cairo.
The Canadians toppled Italy 79-60 in Sunday's final after upsetting the powerhouse United States 99-87 a day earlier, handing the Americans their first loss at the tournament in six years.
R.J., from Mississauga, Ont., averaged 22 points per game (and poured in 38 against the U.S.) to earn MVP honours while leading Canada to its first ever world title in any age group.
"I mean, I don't think my dad can say he beat the U.S. so I've got that on him," R.J. told a throng of reporters, glancing at his father a few feet away with a sly grin.
The elder Barrett had been beaming moments earlier as his son made his way through a crowd of chanting fans, friends and family to embrace him. He didn't seem to mind the jab, but R.J. switched gears anyway, speaking instead about the lessons he'd learned from his father.
"With my dad, when I was growing up I saw the amount of work that he put in," R.J. said. "There's always people coming behind trying to take your spot and I don't want anyone to take my spot."
Potential No. 1 pick
A star on the rise, the younger Barrett could be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft.
He called the FIBA gold medal — rectangular in shape with hieroglyphics on the back as a nod to the host nation — the top honour he's achieved in his basketball career to date. But there's a lot more he wants to achieve.
"Pretty simple — go to college, go to the NBA, be a star," Barrett said of his goals.
Head coach Roy Rana believes his top player has the tools to do that.
All smiles and clutching the FIBA trophy while speaking with reporters, Rana showered Barrett's gold-medal performance in praise.
"When he steps on the floor he performs at such a high level," Rana said. "We've seen some special performances in world championships before. ... This one will go down as one of the best at any FIBA event."
Greeted by loud cheers
The team's flight was delayed nearly three hours, but when it arrived they were greeted by loud cheers from friends, family and fans.
Children waved small Canadian flags as the players walked through the arrivals area.
Rana said the historic win, over 24 hours old, still hadn't sunk in. He said his team will enjoy their success but not rest on it.
"Expectations have changed," he said. "The pressure is heavier but maybe that's a good thing. They embraced that."
Both Rana and Barrett spoke at length about the significance of their win against the U.S., a team that had dominated the event, and every other, for decades.
"No one really believed (Canada could win)," Barrett said. "Everyone thought, 'yeah the USA is going to come and beat us' but we proved what we could do."