Austin Rivers Diary: Eliminating Florida
Words. Austin Rivers
Austin Rivers (photo. Kelly Kline)
Winter Park (Fla.) senior guard Austin Rivers is the best player in the country. After de-committing from Florida in April, Rivers allowed Duke, North Carolina and Kansas to give chase, making his one of the most captivating recruiting stories in the country.
The younger son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, Austin has agreed to give HSH exclusive access by chronicling his thoughts in a regular diary. In this entry he talks about a major development:
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What’s up world! It’s been a while, but I’ve been busy with all of these coaches coming in for in-home visits. It wasn’t tiring at all talking to the coaches. I loved it. I mean, at the end of the day I’ve got three of the greatest coaches in the game coming to my house and having dinner with me! They’re just talking to me about how much they want me to come and play for them and that’s definitely cool.
The tiring part is when I had to do all of the interviews. I know that comes with the territory, but I’m just glad I can relax. I’m chillin’ now.
First, UNC came in. I met Coach (Roy) Williams at the front door. I think he came in some sort of nice Cadillac car. The meeting was really cool! We fed them ribs and fried chicken, potatoes, green beans and lemon cake. My mom can REALLY cook! Hmm … I’m trying to think of who ate the most … To be honest, they all ate their plate. I think they liked it because they ate everything. Coach Williams really laid out where he saw me fitting into his system and they did their presentation. I got to see DVDs and they said that they could see me coming in and running the show. Obviously, I’m gonna have to work for it, but they said that I’m a player that can come in and make a big impact right away. I liked it. Coach Williams is a really cool guy. When they left they just said that they’d see me in a few weeks on my visit and that was it.
Kansas came next. This was my first time meeting Coach (Danny) Manning and Coach (Bill) Self.
We switched it up for dinner. My mom made lasagna. That’s my favorite and everybody really liked it. Their presentation was similar to UNC’s. Honestly, it was really chill and relaxed. We talked about the NBA and the lockout and who is the best player they’ve ever seen and all of that stuff. Then at the end of the conversation, Coach Self talked about how he saw me fitting into his system. It was similar to UNC. He said that he sees me as an immediate impact player. It was a really good visit! I really enjoyed getting a chance to meet them.
With both UNC and Kansas it was a little different than Duke because I’m getting to know those schools. I already know Duke really well. I really enjoyed forming a relationship with Coach Williams and Coach Self.
When Duke came, it was kinda like old friends coming to the house. Duke had a driver outside. I think they were in a Lincoln. It was Coach K and Coach (Chris) Collins. We served them the same kind of food that we served UNC. It was sooo good we had it again! They loved it! And Coach K had like seven glasses of lemonade, so that was pretty funny. Then Coach K and Coach Collins laid out their vision for me. They didn’t compare me to any former players, but they did talk about the freedom that Jay Williams had when he was there. They felt like I was the kind of player that could have that type of freedom in their system. They said they trusted me to play off of my instincts. I really liked that!
You know what was cool: All of the coaches that came in were sporting championship rings. Coach K even had his USA ring on and that was real nice! Those national title rings were REALLY nice, though. They were beautiful. I’ve gotta get one!
I ended up texting my boy Kyrie Irving (Duke), but we didn’t even talk about the visit. We were talking about Mike Posner. Kyrie’s my boy, so we talk all the time. I also talk to players from UNC. Like I know P.J. Hairston, Kendall Marshall and Reggie Bullock, and I know Harrison Barnes a little too. I don’t have anyone at Kansas that I really talk to like that.
Now the next step is the visits. I’m really looking for the same thing at every school. I just want to see how they roll! I want to see what it’s like to go there when school is in session. I want a glimpse of the life.
Like I said, I’m still building a relationship with UNC and Kansas so that will all be new, but I think even at Duke it will be kind of new. I’ve only been there when the students weren’t there and now I’m coming for “Countdown to Craziness” and I KNOW that’s gonna be just crazy with them coming off the title and everything. So they’re all gonna be the same and I’m really looking forward to it! I’m definitely gonna take all three visits for sure.
The other thing I wanted to mention was that, obviously, I recently dropped Florida off of my list. That was hard to do. I have so much respect for Coach (Billy) Donovan and that whole staff. They were the first school that I fell in love with, and the only school that I committed to. I just felt like it wasn’t right for me, but they have a great program over there. And a lot of players will succeed there. I just felt like for my career it was best that I go elsewhere.
Well, that’s all for now everybody. Check back, though, because I’m gonna do a diary after each of my official visits! I appreciate you guys reading. Until next time!
-Follow Austin on Twitter at @AustinRivers25
-Follow High School Hoop on Twitter at @HighSchoolHoop
this is craziness. i dont like when kids know where they are going but drag it out and play like they still need to get to know the other schools. Quincy Miller is doing it to. Its ridiculous.
Mrs. K needs to have a fresh pitcher or two or ten of lemonade for Coach K at each meal
7 glasses, that’s awesome!!!
Dude…lighten up. Let him enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
yes. I agree with Jeff. He only gets this time in his life once. Life is short… enjoy the journey.
Austin I hope you pick Duke. The greatest coach arguably in all of basketball will be your mentor. Plus he can work on your D even more, then you’ll truly be an all around player. Honestly those other coaches are great but K will best help you on that aspect of your game!! GO DUKE!!!
Man please! Austin Rivers should go to DUKE (yuk, burns my tongue even saying it) if he want’s to learn the skills that will make him a marginal player at the next level. Duke’s style has not made ANY NBA superstars. The Tarheels have a proven track record in playing a style that is comparable to the next level. p.s. Duke’s NCAA title was a “fix” job by the selection committee and people don’t really acknowledge it as legit. The best team, Kentucky would have blown the “Douchies” off the court!
kentucky got killed by West Virginia by like 20 points duke beat west virginia by like 25 points kentucky would have been man slaughtered
Austin, There’s no place like the PHOG. Visit Kansas before you make a decision. The fans there make the crazies look calm.
Unfortunately Austin, you would actually have to live in “Kansas” with all the hayseeds and Goobers where tractor pulls are a community event. Either Carolina school would be close to home, but the Tarheels proven track record of NBA superstars makes the choice a really easy one!
Austin,
You are Duke material, those other 2 schools don’t really care about you developing on a personal level, all they care about is your game. Coach K and staff will not only help grow your game skills but will teach you very valuable life lessons. Coach K is the greatest college coach ever, you’d be mistaken not to train under him! Plus he’s got so many titles and you’d get to play with Nolan, Kyle, Seth, Kyrie and the Plumlees!
You and Duke = more national titles
unc = nit appearances
As simple as that!
Austin better hurry up and get to Duke if is going to play with Kyle and Nolan, they will be gone after this year.
Coach Donovan is a good coach. Much respect. Although Florida must be disappointed, it may not be the best fit for Austin Rivers.
I would love to see Austin Rivers playing for Duke. I believe with Austin learning to be a leader both on and off the court from Coach K, he very well could get a few of those NCAA championship rings. Coach K’s worked with some of the greatest talent in the NBA today and helped team teamwork, leadership, and discipline.
Austin Rivers would thrive with the Blue Devils playing with freedom and finesse. He’ll learn how to play defense better than even Kobe Bryant picked up how to take leadership of team defense as one.
Who knows? Nobody is doubting that AR will make it to the NBA and perhaps even be an elite level player but long term he may turn out to be a great coach someday like his pop, Glenn Anton “Doc” Rivers. I believe he could take a lesson from Kobe, Jason Kidd, and Johnny Dawkins and learn with Coach Mike Krzyzewski to be a champion in both the International Level, NCAA College level, and professional NBA level.
Best of luck to you AR! Go Duke!
Austin,
Fun to read your thoughts. I have a few, remote connections as I grew up in Milwaukee and followed your dad when he played for Marquette. Carlos Boozer also went to high school here in Alaska and so we followed his career at Duke. So, it’d be fun to follow your career if you went to Duke. Good luck with the visits – you might want to read Coach K’s book and philosophy on life and basketball, Five Point Play.
Best Of Luck
word… son.
Austin – interesting commentary about the visits. In making your decision, is the academic reputation of the schools relevant?
I am a KU fan but I think you will agree after your visit to KU that the there is something special walking through that tunnel into the birthplace of basketball. There is nothing any school can provide that will match Naismith Drive and the Phog Allen Fieldhouse when its packed. (Which is everygame.) Keep an open mind, youre gonna love KU. Rock Chalk
I have 4 Sports Illustrated Covers in my office from each of Duke NCs (National Championships). Would love a 5th with your pic on the cover. The others have Bobby Hurley, Shane Battier (hugging Mike Dunleavy), Grant Hill and Jon Scheyer.
I’d love to see you join the Carolina family, but you should go where you think its best for you. You’ll be OK where ever you go, and so will the programs that you don’t choose. Best of luck.
Glad you will hold off on your decision until the visits…UNC has the best campus life and university feel of any school out there. Give them a chance, and you won’t regret it.
Someone tell the kid he can’t twitter if he goes to Carolina!
True story… LoL. He should be a Blue Devil so that people all around the USA and the world can follow his tweets!
Austin,
Congratulations on all of your success! I love your dad and remember watching him when he played for the Hawks. I’ve been reading all of the posts and Duke/NC seem to be garnering most of the attention. Coach K is a legend but virtually none of his players have excelled at the next level. With the exception of Battier, none of them can play NBA caliber defense. I love Roy & have since he first went to KU but just look at the players he has sent to the league since he went to UNC. Sadly enough, Ty Lawson is doing the best and he’s 2nd string. Coach Self develops players and gets them ready. This is hard for an Illinois fan to say but it’s true. Shock the world and go to KU!
Just curious if Maggette, Brand, or Nelson all feel the same way about Coach K and the Duke community. I know almost all of the UNC players come back to Chapel Hill and always talk about the “family” of all their basketball players. I never hear about any of that from Duke. I think Nelson’s mother said it best, “Coach K doesn’t care about the players, just his program”. Kansas also keeps a close knit among its current players and alumni. Coach K is a good coach, but let’s be real about why he really does it. For himself and HIS program.
Amen to that!
Elton Brand was at Duke coaching in Coach K’s fantasy camp this summer. Gene Wojciechowski from ESPN played on Elton’s team and wrote a bunch of articles about it. All the Duke guys come back to Durham because the facilities are better than most NBA facilities. Last season Duke had more players in the NBA than any other college program.
Do the NIT’s runner-up have good facilities? That fat tub of lard Sean May sure wasn’t using them. The guy ate himself out of the NBA after developing a crippling addiction to cheeseburgers at unc. What unc players even start on NBA teams? Felton maybe, and he’s the most turnover prone PG in the league. Times have changed. Keep throwing rocks at the throne though.
Yea…. times have change! But not the fact that the Tarheels have been beating Duke for the longest and its about time for Duke to win because they were starting to make the North Carolina Basketball circle look one-side! The Tarheels have been run through Duke for that long! We had one losing season… But never again… Coach k has been coaching at Duke for more than 40 years and only one 4 champions? Roy has been at UNC for 5 years and has won 2 championships… please do the math!
Aaah, I knew you were a Carolina fan the moment I saw the numerous grammatical, mathematical and spelling errors.
First off, it’s been 30 years and he’s won 4 championships. He’s tied 2nd ALL TIME. Yes, Roy has been at UNC 5 years and won 2. You act like he’s only been coaching for 5 years. Pretty sure he started in the 80′s.
Yes you had the upper hand the last few years. So what? We dominated you the first half of the decade.
“The throne”? Chill out Dukie, your last two championships were in 2010 and 2001. Meanwhile UNC has the chips from 2009 and 2005. My math tells me UNC has been more successful recently. I’m not even a UNC fan, but you’re being ridiculous.
Carolina won the title in ’09 then lost 4-5 guys to the pros, so obviously last year was going to be a tough rebuilding year. Anybody could have seen that. “Times have changed.” Yeah, right. Duke had two title seasons in 10 years; Carolina had two title teams in 5 years. Do the math.
Since we’re doing the math can we talk about sample size? 2 titles in five years looks sweet but 5 years is nothing. Let’s expand that to say 25 years. Since the 85-86 season, Duke has been to the sweet 16 or deeper 20 times, won 4 national championships, finished 1st in the ACC 12 times and won the ACC tourney 12 times.
In the past 25, unc went to the sweet 16 only 16 times (16<20), won 3 national championships (3<4), finished 1st in the ACC 9 times (9<12) and won the ACC tourney 7 times (71).
So i guess the only question left for unc fans is…..do you like apples?
Austin,
Your game is very impressive for your age as you are well developed past your years. You are a smart player. You will be entertaining to watch whichever school you choose. I am a Duke fan and hope you choose to come play in Durham, helping coach K hang some more banners. However, best of luck to you wherever you feel fits you best. Enjoy the recruitment as it is a special thing only a hand full of people get to experience, especially at the highest level.
I can’t imagine how it feels to be recruited by three of the most tradition rich programs in college basketball. Any choice you make will be great for you. Having said that I hope you choose UNC! Your style of play is perfect for Coach Williams. You will attend a great school that graduates players and an amazing atmosphere. I hope you enjoy all your visits, take everything in cuz you’ll remember it forever. Hope to see you in Carolina blue next year! GO HEELS!
Austin,
I am a life long TARHEEL and would love to see you in Carolina Blue and you would without a doubt be a great fit in Williams’ system. At the end of the day, I hope you choose the best school for you with regards to system, development, and academics. While I am sure you will excel in any system both Kansas’ and UNC’s more wide open style would fit your skill set better than Duke’s tendency to play more traditional half court sets. And as far as D that is the focus of UNC’s fast break system it all starts with creating turnovers on D and scoring off of them on the other side. I think that is key when developing your game for the pros, which UNC has the most success with compared to the others on your list. Enjoy your senior year and take full advantage of all your visits and enjoy the experience. Good Luck and keep as much focus in the classroom as on the court.
TARHEEL ALUMNUS
You’ll do well on either side of the rivalry. But regardless, UNC has won two championships in the past five years, so you know it won’t be long before we’re hanging another banner in the Dean Dome.
Carolina is more of a place to call home than Duke. Try visiting by yourself without letting anyone know. Then you’ll see the real Duke. Not quite the picture they paint you on the “official” visit let me tell you. There’s a reason Duke fans try to escape to Chapel Hill whenever possible.
Best of luck to you in the process!
True dat, true dat!
Duke students go to Chapel Hill because there are dumb pretty girls to take advantage of. Why go to an inferior school when you can drive 15 minutes from Durham whenever you need to hear a bimbo squeal.
Home is where the heart is and Duke basketball players live and play with heart. Coach K models his coaching staff and basketball teams as a family (a circle of trust).
Sometimes families spread out to go on their own life adventures. e.g.
Johnny Dawkins, head Coach of Stanford U.
Tommy Amaker, head Coach of Harvard U.
Jeff Capel, head Coach of University of Oklahoma
and Head Coach of USA U18 Championship team
Jay Bilas, Lawyer and ESPN basketball analyst
Jason Williams, ESPN analyst
Elton Brand, Jay Williams, Jay Bilas, Shane Battier, Grant Hill, Carlos Boozer all come back to Duke when they’re not working to support their families and being professional leaders.
Austin Rivers could come and be part of the Duke family and represent the esteemed Rivers family on and off the hardwood court.
Come to Duke Austin and lead from the heart with
Courage, Passion, and Integrity
This nonsense about Duke not producing NBA superstars is completely ridiculous. UNC has produced one, just ONE, superstar in MJ, and that’s ancient history. No one is arguing about MJ’s dominance, but he has nothing to do with what UNC is in the present. Dean Smith is long gone, folks.
If we’re talking about now, right now, the only players of note from UNC in the NBA are Jerry Stackhouse, who has been good but never great, and Vince Carter, who had flashes of brilliance in Toronto but hasn’t done anything since. By the end of last season, his contributions paled in comparison to those of JJ Redick, who stole most of his minutes down the stretch. I’ll give some love to Antwan Jamison and the now retired-Rasheed Wallace, but again, these guys spent most of their careers as good, maybe very good, roles players. Hardly stars or franchise players.
What you really have to think about, also, is that even those players were coached by Dean Smith. Roy Williams has only produced one player who has ever done anything noteworthy in the NBA, and that is Paul Pierce.
On the Duke side of things, you have Grant Hill, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer, Shane Battier, Luol Deng, JJ Redick and Chris Duhon as your most notable players. Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and Carlos Boozer all are or have been franchise players, and Luol Deng and JJ Redick are well on their way to being major impact players. There are others who are role players that I haven’t mentioned. And all of those players were coached by Coach K, who will still be coaching for years to come.
In terms of statistical contributions, salaries, number of starts or any other metric you want to use, at present, Duke players simply do better in the NBA.
More specifically, Coach K produces better NBA talent that Roy Williams, and there’s no way around it.
There’s one other unpleasantry that has to come into the mix, and that is the current state of UNC athletics. If you think there’s no chance that this academic investigation in the football program isn’t going to bleed into other sports at UNC, you’re dreaming. I’m not saying UNC basketball is guilty of anything along the lines of what the football team has done – we all know Roy is too smart to let any of those shenanigans go on during his watch – but the suspicion will always be there. And for the next few seasons, all of UNC athletics will play under a cloud of suspicion.
Well if thats the case…. then why has Duke only won 4 titles under Coach K? I mean he’s been there since Duke started! and only 4 titles?
… and Yea… Grant Hill just started to show some good upsides! But the other ones “Grant Hill, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer, Shane Battier, Luol Deng, JJ Redick and Chris Duhon”! Brand & Boozer are ok but either couldnt get the job done! Luol Deng… cant stay heathly and is on the trading blocks! JJ Reddick is a ROLE PLAYER… has he every started a game like the UNC PLAYERS? Its a proven fact that UNC is killing DUKE in the NBA right now…. So look it up on Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia if you have too!
What G Hill not doing anything ok NBA co rookie of the year ok so what well NBA first team 1997, NBA second team 96,98,99 and 2000 wow. Ok so what you say well in his frst 6 season before he got hurt had a total of 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds and 2,720 assists. Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, and Lebron James are the only three players in league history to eclipse these numbers after their first six seasons. So G Hill not much…humm
Be realistic. You can’t say Vince Carter “hasn’t done anything” since Toronto when he’s averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game over his entire career. And how did he “pale in comparison” to Redick when Vince still put up better numbers and never lost his starting job?
Sheed was an All-Star. Stackhouse led the NBA in scoring. Jamison has been a 20-and-10 guy. Far from just “good role players.” Ray Felton and Marvin Williams (Roy’s guys) were starters on NBA playoff teams this year.
Now, about Duke. The only All-Stars are Hill (10 years ago), Boozer and Brand (also a long time ago). Maggette is a decent role player at best, Battier is a great role player, Deng is a playoff starter but somehow nobody wants him in a trade, Redick is a backup role player (to Vince), and Duhon flat-out stinks.
Duke also has more glaring NBA busts. Jay Williams, Danny Ferry, William Avery, Cherokee Parks, Bobby Hurley, etc.
All I have to say is Kansas Kansas Kansas!!!!!! Check the stats where did basketball start…Kansas. Where did Dean Smith start…Kansas. Where did coach k and roy boy start….Kansas. KU is the HOME of everything great in college basketball. Granted your gonna start anywhere you go, but Duke and UNC don’t have your style of play like KU does. The Morris twins are waiting and we have a 7 footer on the inside with Withey. Match that with your inside outside slashing ability and I smell a no doubt championship next year. Also the college basketball hall of fame is 30 minutes away in Kansas City. This is James Naismith and Phog Allen country. You will not be disappointed in your visit. Welcome to Kansas birthplace of North Carolina basketball.
Or a loss to N. Iowa again. Either way.
Great choice!
Good luck Austin, Tear it up at Duke. Wish you would have stayed at Florida tho. You and Brad would have tore it up.