What has been a thought for the last year became official on Monday: Montverde Academy (FL) guard and 2019 Flo40 No. 1 R.J. Barrett has decided to reclassify to the 2018 class.

The 6-foot-6 guard announced the decision on his player blog with USA Today.

From all angles, this makes perfect sense, and it's part of the reason why the news is not shocking. Academically, Barrett is on track to graduate next year. Athletically, Barrett is ready for college right now.

The decision allows the left-handed phenom from Mississauga, Ontario, to go to college early and, ultimately, makes him eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft.

After guiding Montverde Academy to DICK'S Nationals this past season, Barrett was sensational this spring and summer, leading the Nike EYBL in scoring at 28 points per game with 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in just eight games and recently led Team Canada to a gold medal in the FIBA U19 World Cup.

He averaged 21.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, which included a 38-point, 13-rebound performance against Team USA, to win the tournament's MVP.

Barrett is an elite talent, one who the likes of Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and UCLA, among others, are all in heavy pursuit for and will certainly be a force when the next high school season rolls around.

The big question is: where will Barrett rank in the next 2018 Flo40?

Much like any rankings process, there are a lot of factors.

Will 2018 Flo40 No. 1 Marvin Bagley III reclassify and go to college next year?

Has Barrett elevated his game to overtake the highlight factory known as Zion Williamson?

Does No. 3 Bol Bol or No. 4 Cameron Reddish have a case to be ranked above Barrett?

If Bagley III remains in the class, which is still very much up in the air, it appears the highest he could be, at the moment, is No. 2.

However, Barrett is the real deal, as good as it gets in the high school game, and there shouldn't be any limitations put on his ranking, which will likely come out once the class is finalized later this summer, or how good he can and will be in the 2018 class.