As if the Duke Blue Devils weren’t already the most potent team in the collegiate ranks with both the National Preseason POY Kyle Singler providing leadership and outstanding freshman phenom Kyrie Irving running the point, Duke may very well get even better from the perimeter next season once elite level recruits Austin Rivers and Quinn Cook arrive on campus. Just imagine the possibilities if Irving decides to stick around for his sophomore season.
While Cook is regarded as the #28 player in the class (#4 PG), Rivers is the real get as the #1 rated player in next year’s class by most scouting sources. He is the son of current Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers and is an immediate impact type player playing out his final season in high school at Winter Park HS in Florida. He’s viewed as the most potent offensive player in the 2011 Class and some feel is already NBA ready. As a coach’s son, his basketball IQ must be through the roof. Listed at 6‘4 and 190 lbs, Rivers is a tough defensive assignment for any opposing player as he can either show off his outstanding long range shooting prowess or finish with the best of them on his way to the rim.
As evidence of his amazing abilities, Rivers got his high school season started off right by scoring 46 points against Montverde Academy, nearly scoring half of his team’s point total, en route to a 102-92 win in a game just after Thanksgiving. At the end of the first half, Austin nailed a 2 point buzzer-beater to eclipse the 2,000 point plateau. He joined former Florida point guard Nick Calathes, now playing in Europe, as native Floridians to also reach the milestone. Additionally, he scored 16 points in the 4th quarter alone, to help secure the win.
Rivers is off to a great start this season averaging a team leading 29 ppg as his quad is off to a 2-1 start to the young season. He is quickly becoming an internet sensation for plays like when he crosses up John Wall and finishes with his off hand at an AAU event a few months ago.
Check out Rivers(#25) in action vs Montverde Academy:
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.
