Start getting used to hearing the name R.J. Barrett a lot more now.

After Monday’s announcement on his blog RJ’s World that he was reclassifying himself, the 6-foot-6, left-handed swingman from Mississauga became NBA-eligible one year earlier.

Barrett had been ranked No. 1 in the 2019 high school class, but ESPN now ranks him the third-best prospect in 2018.

Barrett, though, says he intends to fight his way back to the top by the time the 2019 NBA draft rolls around.

“It’s been a thought of mine for the last year, but I wanted to wait and see how the season would go and how school would go and when everything went well it became more and more real so I made the decision to go ahead and do it,” Barrett wrote on his blog.

“I’m right on track to graduate in 2018 and academically everything is great ... My family and I feel like this will be beneficial for me because I’m ready to move up and to be in college a year earlier.”

Barrett’s elite athleticism, high basketball IQ, and ability to step up on the big stage are just some of the qualities that have many scouts excited about the 17-year-old.

He’s the son of renowned former basketball player Rowan Barrett, who spent time playing overseas and was a member of Canada’s men’s national team during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

That was the last time the Canadian men qualified to play at the Olympic Games — and, coincidentally, the same year R.J. was born.

The younger Barrett credits his father for introducing him to the game.

“My dad, he was always there growing up,” R.J. said in an exclusive phone interview with the Sun. “I used to watch him (Rowan) play in Europe. From Day 1, he’s really been teaching me the game, teaching me little things.”

Barrett also credits those who coached him from a young age in helping him develop his game, starting with the staff at Canada Basketball’s Junior Academy.

“(The Junior Academy helped) not just me, but a whole group of guys, and we’re all turning out really well.”

In July, Barrett and the rest of the U19 men’s basketball team helped Canada win its first-ever world title in Cairo. Considering how long the country went without winning a title on any stage, the accomplishment is that much more significant.

“It’s definitely an amazing feeling, because Canada is such a great country and the world is starting to recognize how good we are,” Barrett said when asked to describe how proud he feels representing Canada on the national stage.

“To be able to win a gold medal for the country, it’s amazing. Just to see Canada is up-and-coming, and that we’re going to be a real threat down the line.”

Barrett averaged 21.6 points in the FIBA U19 World Cup en route to being crowned the tournament’s most valuable player. That scoring output and recognition is stellar by any means, but when you realize the uber-athletic Barrett is typically two years younger than his opponents, it makes the feat that much more impressive.

Barrett says he has always welcomed the challenge of going up against older players, adding it’s one way he proves to himself the work he does in the weight room and on the court is paying off.

“If you can do your thing on a big stage, it helps, but then to do it against guys that are older than you still gives me confidence that all the hard work I’m putting in is really working and I just got to keep getting better.”

Now that he’s entered the history books after delivering Canada’s first world title, Barrett has even bigger aspirations in mind. Becoming the greatest basketball player Canada has ever produced isn’t out of the question.

“There’s so many great guys that have put in a lot of work,” he said. “You know, Steve Nash, two-time NBA MVP, Andrew Wiggins — guys like that. So it’s going to be hard, but I believe in myself and I hope I can make it there one day.”

Nash, who played with Rowan at the Sydney Olympics, is the younger Barrett’s godfather. One of Barrett’s role models, Nash has been around since he was born, helping him along with his development.

“Having little conversations with him during tournaments, he’s always given me a little advice. Like, ‘Bring your team together,’ just little things like that, and just telling me to work hard and think like an underdog, really. That’s when you have the best chance.”

Barrett likens his game to NBA superstars James Harden and LeBron James — who is his favourite player.

“I’m a LeBron guy, so anywhere he goes that’s my team,” he said of the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar, whom he met a couple years ago at a Raptors game.

When you watch Barrett, you can see glimpses of both Harden and James in his game —Harden’s ability to draw fouls (Barrett averaged 8.7 free throw attempts during the FIBA U19 World Cup), and James’ court vision (4.6 assists per game in the tournament) come to mind.

Those skills, along with the other eye-popping athletic attributes Barrett possesses, have contributed to the widespread interest in his services from colleges across the United States.

Barrett says he wants his college experience to feel “like a family” and for him to have good coaches.

Now he’ll try to have that experience one year sooner.

GAME FOR ANYTHING

Rowan Barrett’s impact on his son’s development is well-known. But what R.J.’s mother, Kesha, does behind the scenes also deserves recognition.

“She keeps the family together,” Barrett said of his mom’s impact. “She does everything, whether it’s driving me all over to practice, to always being there to support, being the loudest one. Just always does the little things to keep our family running and we really appreciate it.”

While training in the gym and on the basketball court consumes much of R.J.’s attention, like any other teenager, he’s able to make time for a few hobbies.

“I just like chilling with my friends, playing NBA 2K and stuff,” Barrett said.

Over the years, Barrett has gotten the chance to meet a number of NBA stars featured in the NBA 2K. He admits he still sometimes gets star-struck during those encounters.

“Any time you meet a great successful player, a successful star, it’s just an honour to be in their presence,” he said.

Another one of Barrett’s hobbies was playing piano, but he said he doesn’t really have much time to do that anymore.

jweinstein@postmedia.com

@joshhweinstein

THE BOOK ON BARRETT

R.J. (Rowan Jr.) Barrett

Born: June 14, 2000 (17 years old)

From: Mississauga, Ont.

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 185 pounds

Position: SF/SG

High school: Montverde Academy

College: Undecided

2018 ESPN 60 ranking: No. 3

The skinny: Son of Rowan Barrett, former Canadian Olympian and Executive VP/Assistant GM of Canada Basketball. Godson of Steve Nash.