Austin Rivers has committed to Florida, but his AAU coach says Duke is leading for his services.
“Now Duke would be the leader but again he’s only been to two places,” Each 1 Teach 1 coach Therion Joseph said in a phone interview.
The 6-foot-3 Rivers plays for Winter Park (Fla.) High and is the No. 2 shooting guard in the Class of 2011.
He initially made a verbal commitment to Florida but opened it up and is now considering Duke, North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky and Florida.
“He’s opening it up to everybody,” Joseph said. “He’s going to take a visit to North Carolina. He just talked to Rick Barnes [Monday] and he’s going to take a visit to Texas. And then he will make the best decision for his style of play and hope he gets a good education.”
Joseph said Rivers will likely visit Texas after the USA U18 tryouts in San Antonio June 17-25.
He said no dates have yet been set for visits to North Carolina, Kansas or Kentucky.
“I’m not sure when they’re going to visit North Carolina. [It will be] before the summer ends,” Joseph said.
He added: “He hasn’t really talked about Kansas or Kentucky with me. He might just visit other schools for the [sake] of visiting.”
Rivers, the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, visited Duke April 22-23 after the Devils won the NCAA championship and enjoyed it.
“When you go visit Duke you’re like why the hell would I go anywhere else?” Joseph asked. “It has great facilities. We caught them in the hoopla of raising the banner. We caught them at the time when they very upbeat, very positive. Coach K is a great guy.”
He added: “Everything fits his style at Duke but I’m sure if he goes to North Carolina with their tradition and what they have, he’s going to love UNC. He has to sift through it and decide which university is going to help him become a better young man and which school’s going to help him become a better basketball player.”
Joseph said Rivers is inclined to attend a basketball school like Duke, North Carolina or Kentucky, as opposed to a football school like Florida.
“Florida is obviously a very good program but basketball is just one of their sports,” Joseph said. “Duke sells out every game and Florida is fighting to get half their students there.
“He likes to play with a bulls-eye on his back. He plays better with a bulls-eye. He wants to play at a school that is on ESPNÂ every day, kind of like Notre Dame in football.”
(Photo courtesy Rivals.com)
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gilmore722000 / May 19, 2010
then it looks like Kentucky is the place to be. I wish, no chance this kid goes to KY, but he is a hell of a player.
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Stan / May 19, 2010
Duke all the way. Nice talking to Rivers at the Banquet. Great guy with a good head on his shoulders.
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Wheatgerm / May 19, 2010
Wow, this sounds much more wide open than before. Before it was UF or DU. Now it’s like he’s starting all over again.
From what I’ve read, he’s unstoppable. Suppose he’d like to play alongside the best of the best from his class?
Contrary to popular belief, those are his real eyes …
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TJ / May 19, 2010
Florida get about as many as Duke does at home games. Duke plays in a high school gym. Rivers would be blown away with how much better UNC , Kansas and especially Kentucky are. I dont think UK will have a spot for Rivers though. I would like to see him go to Florida but I agree with him Florida doesnt care about bball. The only time their gym is sold out is when UK comes to town and its mostly UK fans
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jratchfo / May 19, 2010
If Rivers wants to be on ESPN everyday then despite Duke’s title, he’ll choose UK. Smith, Singler, and Irving will be gone in 2011.
UK already has locked up the #1 class in 2011 with Gilchrist/Teague and you can bet Quincy Miller, and 2 from O’Bryant/Chandler/Moultrie/Wroten also will sign. If he wants a starting spot and national attention comparable to what the 2009 class got then he’ll pick UK. Plus we’ll return Lamb, Poole, Hood and 2 seniors in D. Miller and Liggins.
With this being said, and as a UK fan, I still think he’ll choose Duke.
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RD_gator / May 20, 2010
That’s funny, the school more than any other that has been on ESPN nearly every day of the year for the last four years has been the University of Florida – for its basketball success & football success. Not some has been, not relevant to college football anymore, Midwestern school from Indiana!
Florida with a full roster & five returning starters are expected to be preseason #10 in 2010. They should be even stronger in 2011 (with #1 SG Bradley Beal, Mike Rosario, possibly Kenny Boynton; PF: Patric Young, & perhaps #1 C: Rakeem Christmas) and continue to garner attention from the media. Florida’s average attendance to their basketball games, 11,000/G (91% capacity) in the O’Dome, is greater than Duke’s in Cameron (9,000).
Rivers, you have “committed” to play for Florida since your 9th grade. It’s understandable that you visit more schools before making your final decision. But, why the disrespect lately, with your constant sniping remarks toward the University of Florida? Remember you picked the Gators first for a reason – just keep those reasons in mind as well. After all, you did say that “Gator fans have nothing to worry about” during these visits!
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jratchfo / May 20, 2010
As much as I hate Duke (more than any team in all sports), its foolish to compare their fanbase to Florida. Florida ia a football school that had 2 great basketball seasons. Your school, similar to UCLA and UNC last year, struggles to sell out games.
The article speaks for itself and if Rivers wants to play at a basketball school then despite your case Florida is out. My impression is Rivers is a one and done player. When was the last Florida one and done? Boynton was highly touted but struggled in his first season — in fact, Walker was much better.
In 2011, UK very well could have the best class of all time — Duke will not be as strong in 2011 as 2010, Florida ia a football school that does not care about basketball or develop one and done players. B. Knight knew this so don’t hate me, hate the game.
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bnchy / May 20, 2010
Yes, he is an excellent all around player and athlete but he need a LOT of work on his outside shot. Even being the son of Doc Rivers, he does not have very good shooting fundamentals.
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RD_gator / May 20, 2010
jratchfo & others,
Florida fans care about their basketball team. Like I said in my earlier post, Florida’s average attendance was greater than Duke’s last year. The Rowdy Reptiles help give Florida one of the best home-court advantages in all of college basketball. The enthusiasm should pick up even more now that Florida should be ranked high and have a full roster for the first time in a long time. I would think playing for a loaded team that will win should mean more to Rivers than the ambiance of a “sell-out” audience. In 2011, Florida could have anywhere from five to seven 5*’s/McDonald All-Americans on their roster: PG/SG: Kenny Boynton(jr), Mike Rosario(jr), #1SG: Bradley Beal(fr), PF: Patrick Young(So), #1C: Rakeem Christmas*fr), SF: Adonis Thomas(fr) and/or SG:Austin Rivers(fr). That kind of team should be attractive for any top recuit to play on; especially one with a mixture of experience and new-comers.
I have seen the alumni/general public sit on their keisters looking impassive at Kentucky, UNC, and even Florida. But the students at Florida (just like Duke’s) get choice front-row seats on level 1 and are right on top of the competition. I have heard that UK’s student’s don’t get the very best seats – it is because of the corporation of college basketball to make more money.
Regarding one-and-dones, Florida’s last one was Donnell Harvey in 2000. Florida had another stacked team that year and went all the way to its first final game in the NCAA tourney. It was bittersweet, because had Harvey and Mike Miller returned, they could have won the NCAA championship. It’s better for the team if players stay for at least two-three years before going to the NBA draft. Harvey only lasted 3 years in the NBA – he may have had a longer career had he stayed and developed his game more.
How long will Orton or Bledsoe last in the NBA if they are inconsistent? Will they make it for their 2nd NBA contract much less get drafted? Some (like Wall & Cousins) may be ready after one year, but even they could benefit developing their game further in college and learning how to be a champion by actually reaching a Final 4 and winning it all against tough competition.
I think Rivers is a two to three year player. Boynton had a fairly good statistical year (14 pt/G & 2.7 A/G) and played a little PG. Look for Boynton to blow up in his sophmore year at Florida! Walker was learning to be a full-time PG last year (12.7 pts/G & 5 A/G).
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isark / May 22, 2010
It’s amazing that Coach K and the Kentucky programs get all of the top stars but meanwhile the two programs combined have as many championships as Florida has in the last 11 years.
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