FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Emilio Giler, Sports Information Director
Phone: 407.469.2561 x 6102
emilio.giler@montverde.org
MONTVERDE ACADEMY SENIOR NAMED 2018 MORGAN WOOTTEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
March 14, 2018 (Montverde, FL) – Montverde Academy is proud to announce that RJ Barrett, senior and small forward on the Eagles varsity basketball team, has received the 2018 Morgan Wootten Players of the Year which is presented to a male and a female player who displays outstanding character, shows leadership and embodies the values of a student athlete.
RJ Barrett, at 6'7", serves as the MVA Eagles dominant forward on the basketball court. The Wootten award recognizes not only his contributions on the court, but also measures his achievements off the court as well. Barrett has maintained a 3.1 GPA amid a demanding training schedule for his sport. He is also dedicated to giving back and is active in Basketball Buddies, a program for kids with special needs to learn basketball, serving as a mentor, coach and even official for participants.
"This has been an amazing journey as part of the Eagles team and I am deeply honored to receive this award," said Barrett. "Throughout this year, I've continued to build my skills and pushed myself hard toward success in everything that I do, whether it is on the court, in academics or as part of the broader community. I want to thank God, my family, teammates, friends, coaches, and the MVA family who have been with me along the way."
A message from the Headmaster of Montverde Academy, Dr. Kasey Kesselring
Barrett is an accomplished player who has recently been awarded the Naismith National Player of the Year. In 2017, he earned the MVP distinction at the Basketball Without Borders Game during the NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans and helped lead Canada's under-19 squad to a semifinal win over the U.S. at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. He has signed a letter of intent to play basketball this fall at Duke University.
About the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award:
McDonald's established the award in 1997 to pay tribute to Wootten's accomplished teaching and coaching career which landed him in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. The two standout high school basketball stars and members of the McDonald's All American Games 2018 class can now add another honor to their long list of accomplishments.
About Montverde Academy:
Montverde Academy is an international, coeducational, independent college preparatory school for grades Pre-K3-12, with a boarding program serving grades 7-12, and post-graduate studies. Our mission is to inspire students to become knowledgeable leaders with global vision that instills a passion for learning, and that nurtures character development in a disciplined and diverse community. Visit Montverde.org for more information. For more news about Montverde Academy, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @mvaeagles.
