Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
The seemingly inevitable has become reality.
Austin Rivers, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2011 out of Winter Park (Fla.) High, verbally committed to Duke, choosing the Blue Devils over North Carolina and Kansas.
Duke assistant Chris Collins and Kansas assistant Danny Manning attended Rivers’ workout Wednesday and he made the decision afterward.
“I made the decision late last night,” the 6-foot-5, 197-pound Rivers said by phone. “I just thought about it and this is where I see myself playing. Duke here I come. I’m ready to go and play for the Blue Devils.”
Rivers said the options that Duke offers in the long term played a big factor in his decision.
“It’s Duke,” he said. “It’s where geniuses go. Duke is something that stretches far beyond basketball. That’s something I can learn while I’m there. A lot of those kids are going to be millionaires when they grow up. It will be a good program to be a part of.”
Rivers — who initially committed to Florida and then changed his mind — had planned to visit Carolina this weekend and Kansas Oct. 22. He will hit Duke Oct. 15, the same weekend Oak Hill point guard Quinn Cook visits.
As for what Rivers will bring on the court, Therion Joseph, his AAU coach, said:
“He’s going to bring a playmaker,” he said. “He’s going to be a guy that can put the ball in the basket but can make his teammates better. And he fits the character of kids that Duke normally recruits.”
FREE THROWS
California forward Angelo Chol has an in-home visit with North Carolina tonight, per Alex Kline. The Arizona staff payed Chol a visit last night…Kentucky head coach John Calipari was set to watch Michael Gilchrist at St. Patrick Thursday, while assistant Orlando Antigua was at South Kent (Conn.) checking in on 2012 SG Ricardo Ledo...Mikael Hopkins will visit Kansas officially beginning Friday, per the Dematha Hoops twitter.
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
The seemingly inevitable has become reality.
Austin Rivers, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2011 out of Winter Park (Fla.) High, verbally committed to Duke, choosing the Blue Devils over North Carolina and Kansas.
Duke assistant Chris Collins and Kansas assistant Danny Manning attended Rivers’ workout Wednesday and he made the decision afterward.
“I made the decision late last night,” the 6-foot-5, 197-pound Rivers said by phone. “I just thought about it and this is where I see myself playing. Duke here I come. I’m ready to go and play for the Blue Devils.”
Rivers said the options that Duke offers in the long term played a big factor in his decision.
“It’s Duke,” he said. “It’s where geniuses go. Duke is something that stretches far beyond basketball. That’s something I can learn while I’m there. A lot of those kids are going to be millionaires when they grow up. It will be a good program to be a part of.”
Rivers — who initially committed to Florida and then changed his mind — had planned to visit Carolina this weekend and Kansas Oct. 22. He will hit Duke Oct. 15, the same weekend Oak Hill point guard Quinn Cook visits.
As for what Rivers will bring on the court, Therion Joseph, his AAU coach, said:
“He’s going to bring a playmaker,” he said. “He’s going to be a guy that can put the ball in the basket but can make his teammates better. And he fits the character of kids that Duke normally recruits.”
FREE THROWS
California forward Angelo Chol has an in-home visit with North Carolina tonight, per Alex Kline. The Arizona staff payed Chol a visit last night…Kentucky head coach John Calipari was set to watch Michael Gilchrist at St. Patrick Thursday, while assistant Orlando Antigua was at South Kent (Conn.) checking in on 2012 SG Ricardo Ledo...Mikael Hopkins will visit Kansas officially beginning Friday, per the Dematha Hoops twitter.
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
