Apparently, Austin Rivers, the #1 ranked high school player in the 2011 Class doesn’t have much respect for his recent competition as he was caught on camera making a bold prediction that he would score 40 points in a game against Cypress Creek HS in Florida. Not surprisingly, Austin showed just why he is the nation’s top rated recruit by doing exactly what he predicted, pummeling the opposition to the tune of 43 points……….all in just 3 quarters.
Rivers, who will be heading to Duke University next fall, has been tearing up the hardwood in this, his senior season at Winter Park HS in Florida, by averaging 30+ppg and 6 rebounds per contest, including two games where he has scored 40 or more points. His 43 point effort against Cyprus Creek, which coincidentally is Ama’re Stoudemire’s old HS, was just 3 points shy of his season high of 46 points scored against Montverde Academy around Thanksgiving.
The 6‘4 shooting guard was again spectacular, showing off his nearly complete arsenal of offensive moves, which some deem as already NBA ready. Most lethal is his now patented step-back pull-up jumper, which is so tight, he leaves most defenders leaning right as he drains a sweet long distance bomb.
Austin’s attempt at shot-calling is reminiscent of Babe Ruth once calling out just exactly where his next home run would land. While that’s a stretch, just how good a player are the Blue Devils getting? Even though next season they will lose Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith to graduation, imagine Kyrie Irving running the break with either the sharpshooting Andre Dawkins, Seth Curry, or Austin Rivers on the wing.
Check out Austin Rivers Predicting and Then Scoring 40 Points:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
