For the second time ever, a Canadian is the United States' top high school basketball player.

On Friday, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced R.J. Barrett as the 2018 Naismith High School Boys’ Player of the Year.

The 17-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., follows in the footsteps of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins of Vaughan, Ont., who claimed the honour in 2013.

Barrett's Monteverde (FL) Academy team is 31-0 on the season and will compete in the High School Basketball National Tournament later in March.

“It is an honour to receive the Naismith Player of the Year award,” Barrett said in a statement. “I want to thank God, my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the Montverde community, as well as all the people who voted for me.”

Barrett, who captured gold with Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup last summer, has committed to Duke for next fall.

Among those who have claimed the Naismith honour over its 50-year history include Alonzo Mourning (1988), Chris Webber (1991), Jason Kidd (1992), Kobe Bryant (1996), LeBron James (2003), Kevin Love (2007), Ben Simmons (2015), Lonzo Ball (2016) and last year's winner, Michael Porter Jr.

Central Arkansas Christian School star Christyn Williams was named the Girls' Player of the Year.