Austin Rivers said he won’t pick a college until after taking officials to North Carolina, Duke and Kansas, but at this point Duke is in a good position.
“It’s the school I have the best relationship with,” he said Wednesday by phone. “It’s the school I know the most. I’ve talked to them the most and they’ve developed the best relationship with me.”
The 6-foot-3 Rivers, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2011, had an in-home visit Tuesday with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant Chris Collins that last two and a half hours.
“It was good,” he said. “I had a great time talking basketball with Coach K and Coach Collins.
“Basically they want me to be the leader of the team, someone who can come in and help the program win. He wants me to score and penetrate and be an all around player. He really trusts me and believes I can be one of the best players in college. He said I can learn a lot from him which I don’t doubt at all.”
Rivers visits Duke Oct. 15.
Rivers also met with Kansas coach Bill Self last Saturday and visits them Oct. 22.
“I like them,” he said. “That’s my first time meeting with them. Sometimes you have a good feeling meeting people. T’heir coach really does trust me. He’s kind of like Coach K. He believes I can really do well and help the program win. He’s gonna have me come in and be the guy but I gotta work for it.”
Rivers also met last week with North Carolina coach Roy Williams and visits that campus Oct. 1.
“He thinks I could be their piece,” he said. “I’m the only guard they’re recruiting. They have wings like PJ Hairston but they could see me in their program doing well.”
Rivers won’t make any decisions until after all three visits are done.
“I haven’t gone on any officials yet,” he said. “After my officials are done with I’ll sit with my family for a couple weeks and then decide.”
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