Class of 2019 updated rankings: Barrett moves to No. 1

Just like there is a new No. 1 player in the class of 2017, a new No. 1 prospect highlights Rivals' latest rankings release for the class of 2019. Montverde (Fla.) Academy’s superstar wing R.J. Barrett jumps up a spot from No. 2 to take over the top spot in Rivals.com’s top 75 for the class of 2019.

We’re dealing with high school sophomores here, so there will be lots of change over the next few years as these guys develop and we expand to a full Rivals150.

MORE: Full 2019 rankings

There’s an awful lot to like about 6-foot-6 wing R.J. Barrett. The native of Canada who plays at Montverde (Fla.) Academy is athletic, tough, skilled, versatile, wins and is highly productive on both ends of the floor. Because of that, he’s a pretty easy choice as the top player at this juncture.

However, the question that is going to hang out there is whether he will finish up high school in the 2019 class or make an eventual move to 2018.

Barrett and his camp have been quiet on the topic so far, but there has been behind-the-scenes talk about the possibility since he began high school, so it is something that will have to be monitored.

On the school front, Barrett has stayed away from discussing specific schools, but Baylor, UCLA, Missouri, Utah and USC have reportedly offered while others like Duke, Kansas and Kentucky all have serious interest. Look for more to shake out on that front toward the end of the 2017 summer.

For now, Barrett is content to work on his craft. He’s where he feels he should be.

“Anybody would want to be No. 1," Bassey told Rivals.com earlier this winter. "I do think I'm the No. 1 player. I can play very well offensively and defensively. I find teammates and score."

They will surely have to fight to stay where they are, but there are currently four sets of teammates who are five-star prospects and rank among the top 17 in the class of 2019. It will be interesting to see if they can stay that high through the years.

The Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) University School is home to the highest ranked duo, as 6-foot-9 power forward Vernon Carey and seven-foot tall center Balsa Koprivica rank No. 3 and No. 4 overall, respectively. Carey is a bit more of a power player but has face-up game, while Koprivica is big, fluid and skilled. Both already hold offers from Baylor, Louisville, Florida State, Miami, Connecticut and many more.

Next in line are No. 5 Scottie Lewis and No. 12 Bryan Antoine of Tinton Falls (N.J.) Ranney Prep. Both Lewis and Antoine go around 6-foot-5, but they have different games. Lewis is a high-flying slasher and transition playmaker who is arguably one of the top perimeter defenders in high school regardless of class. Antoine is a shot maker from deep who can also run some point. The duo holds offers from Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Villanova, Kansas, Xavier, Maryland, Notre Dame, Miami and more.

We already discussed No. 1 R.J. Barrett, but his Montverde (Fla.) Academy teammate Andrew Nembhard checks in at No. 15 overall. A physical, skilled and savvy point guard, Nembhard has been a teammate of Barrett’s since grade school and plays with the poise of a much older player. Stanford, Villanova, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma, USC and Baylor are among those tracking the floor general.

Finally, there is No. 16 LaMelo Ball and No. 17 Onyeka Okongwu of Chino Hills (Calif.) High. A 6-foot-2 point guard, Ball is the youngest brother of UCLA freshman sensation Lonzo Ball, and his older brother, LiAngelo Ball, will be a freshman at UCLA next season. Like Lonzo, LaMelo is flashy, but he’s got some showman in him that his older brother -- who was very stoic -- never had to him. He takes some bad shots, has some mechanical things to work on and needs more strength, but he’s also a major part of a win streak that has climbed over 50 games. At 6-foot-8, Okongwu currently plays center and does most of his work on the offensive glass via alley oops and by picking up hustle buckets. However, long term Rivals.com sees him as a an athletic power forward who could be an elite defender and play in space. UCLA, USC, UNLV and Arizona State are among those pushing hard.