Amid a report Friday that Duke star Austin Rivers had decided to leave school after his freshman season and enter the NBA Draft, a school spokesman later in the day said no final decision had been made.
Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, is expected to be a top-10 pick whatever year he enters the draft. According to the CBS Sports report, though, Rivers already has made up his mind and that he also plans to sign with an agent and thus forfeit all remaining eligibility.
Duke team spokesman Matt Plizga, however, said Friday afternoon that Rivers has not made a final decision but plans to discuss his future with his family this weekend at their home just outside of Orlando, Fla. Plizga said he expects an announcement on Rivers' future to come within the next week.
“We haven’t talked about it yet,” Rivers' brother, Jeremiah, told the Charlotte Observer on Friday. “He had a really good year, obviously. But as far as my brother coming out, he hasn’t even mentioned it.”
Rivers (6-4, 200) averaged 15.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a freshman. He scored 19 points, hitting only 5-of-14 shots, in his final college game—a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Lehigh.
His unquestioned highlight of the 2011-12 season was a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave Duke an 85-84 victory at North Carolina.
Rivers has a prototype NBA body and a prototype NBA game. He has a wicked cross-over dribble and is able to create his own shot at will, and he shows good range on his jumpshot out to 22 feet. He must get stronger physically and mentally to handle the more physical NBA game, and he must improve his defense.
If he opts to leave, he would become coach Mike Krzyzewski's second one-and-done guard in two years. Kyrie Irving left after one season and Cleveland made him the first pick in the 2011 draft.
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