When Canada finished on top at the U19 FIBA World Cup, it marked new heights for the program as the country earned its first gold medal in an international basketball competition.
For Rowan Barrett, father of tournament MVP R.J. and assistant GM of the senior men’s national team, it also provided a sense of validation that Canada Basketball is moving in the right direction.
“From an organizational perspective, all this time and planning going back to 2012 with the programs we developed, and the support of these athletes all the way through, to culminate in a world championship obviously is great,” Barrett said Tuesday morning on Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s Starting Lineup.
“I think it’s validation for some of the work that we’ve been doing, and helps us to really, to see for certain that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Sunday’s accomplishment on the international stage in Cairo hit home for Barrett in two ways.
“As a father you’re going to be proud to see your son perform like that, and obviously against the States in the biggest moment,” said Rowan, who was part of Canada’s last Olympic basketball team in 2000. “Especially bringing your A-game, and doing something that really not many of us that played for our country can really say: that we were ever able to knock off the States.”
Canada wasn’t overshadowed by the United States come Sunday. After leaving Team USA behind in Saturday’s semifinals thanks to a 38-point performance from R.J., they dominated Italy in the finals with a 79-60 win.
Rowan says that R.J., 17, has wanted to play against the United States ever since he was a pre-teen as that program provided Barrett with the best level of competition. A student at Montverde Academy near Orlando who has dreams of becoming an NBA talent, R.J. showed in Cairo that his hard work is paying off.
In winning gold this past weekend, it proves to Rowan that Canada Basketball is on the right course. More importantly, he says that it also showed the world that the Canadians now have a formula for success, which he hopes will translate to the senior level.
For more of Barrett’s conversation on the Starting Lineup, in which he discusses the expectations he shared with Steve Nash, Canada’s Olympic goals, R.J.’s mental focus, and his opinion on the NBA’s one-and-done situation, you can listen below:
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