Hello World, Meet Austin Rivers

Austin Rivers

Don't be lead astray by his baby face, Austin Rivers is a straight assassin. Much like Stephen Curry, Austin looks like a nice kid in pre game interviews and warmups, but once the game starts he is going to rip your heart out with his series of step back jumpers, floaters, mid range pull ups, leaners, deep threes, and his willingness to attack the rim with ease. He is the Number 1 shooting guard in the Nation going into his senior year of high school at Winter Park in Florida. Its no mystery that the National Champions Duke were hot on his trail three years ago, at the moment this seems to be his school of choice.

It definitely helps when your dad is Boston Celtic's Coach Doc Rivers, Austin is constantly surrounded by NBA's Elite when he is with his father, and this has really translated into his game. Learning shooting techniques from Ray Allen, Mid range positioning from Paul Pierce, and working around the rim, runners, floaters, and leaners with Rajon Rondo.

Doc Rivers at Winter Park

Austin Rivers also has the maturity behind his years, with a recent interview with Slam Magazine Austin went on to say, “When I leave high school and go to college where ever I go, people are going to say I was a great player. But I want people to say ‘he was a great leader’. I don’t want to be known as a great player. I want to be known as a great leader, a great friend to my friends and a great guy, and not just some punk kid who can play basketball.”
Not only that, but at a young age Austin has the heart of a champion and does not shy away from playing against elite talent, as he proved dropping an efficient 45 points on the number 4 ranked team in the Nation.

June 29th, 2010 San Antonio, Texas USA U18 National Team vs Canada, for a place in the gold medel game, Austin poured in a game-high 35 points for the USA, shooting 12-of-18 from the field and sinking 9-of-12 in 3-point range, establishing new U.S. records at the U18 tournament. “Sometimes I just get in grooves where I hit a couple shots,” said Rivers. “You feel like the basket’s real wide. I know I hit a couple shots and then everything started going from there. After that it felt like any shot I threw up would go in, so it’s kind of like a lot of adrenaline. It felt like I had ultimate energy. Everything was falling.”

The question is will all the early stardom lead to Austin to take the foot off the gas pedal, or truly take his game to another level even though he is at the head of his class. Time will only tell, but at the moment Austin Rivers is the Real Deal, make sure you keep a close eye on this one.

Obviously you guys know my obsession with Hoopmixtape, and they have provided us with more video evidence of the Nation's Top Recruits..Here is a look at Austin Rivers.



..And then just Baptizes this kid from Gonzaga Prep.
 

Then Lights Up St. Benedicts For 45 Points at City Of Palms Classic