Austin Rivers Diary: Tragedies and Triumphs
Words. Austin Rivers
Although just a junior, Winter Park (Fla.) point guard Austin Rivers is the 5th-rated prospect in the HSH Top 50. He’s been verbally committed to Florida for over a year, but this fall, Rivers decided to open things up and let Duke recruit him as well, making his one of the most captivating recruiting stories in the country.
The younger son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and younger brother of Indiana University PG Jeremiah Rivers, Austin has agreed to give HSH exclusive access by chronicling his thoughts in this regular diary where he’ll keep everyone updated on everything from his personal life to his high school season to his thoughts on Duke and Florida.
What’s up world! I’ve got to say that this has been a tough time for me. Just this week one of my trainers and one of my best friend’s father passed away and it’s been pretty rough. I’ve basically just been with my family and playing basketball as much as I can to get my mind off things. Just trying to enjoy life.
I am definitely ready for the big game this week (Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2) against my boy Brandon Knight. I’ve been getting up some extra shots and staying in the gym a little longer than usual. I’ve had to, because I’m coming back from my ankle injury, which was crazy:
I was playing against Gonzaga High School, and I really thought I was about to go off. I had hit three threes in a row, and I was feeling it! Then I was on a fast break and I came down really awkward. It was real bad. I thought I heard something pop, so I just screamed because it hurt so bad and I didn’t know what to do. I ended up finding out that I sprained the inside of my foot, too. It was a weird type of sprain.
But I’m back now. I’ve played two games since the injury. The first game I only had four points in 12 minutes. The second game was last Saturday, and I played the whole game and had 29 points. I feel like I’m back now.
Coming into the season I really wanted to expand my game, so what I’ve concentrated on is my rebounding and my defense. I probably average about two steals a game now and I guard the best player from every team we play. Yeah, that means I’ll be guarding Brandon on Friday. Probably not the whole game, but a lot of it.
Also, this year I’m getting my teammates involved first because I know I can get going pretty much whenever I want to. I watch players like Kobe and D-Wade and how they set up their teammates first. I’ve kind of patterned myself after them in that regard, just setting up my teammates and then coming on stronger and stronger as the game progresses.
Outside of basketball, a lot of people ask me what it’s like to have an NBA coach for a dad, and it’s pretty cool. It has its advantages and disadvantages, like with most things. But it’s cool because you get to meet people and you get to see the life that my friends and I are working hard to try and get to. It’s cool to see Rajon Rondo pull up in a nice car and to see how Paul Pierce prepares … Just seeing how the NBA life really is … It’s fun! But then you’ve got to hear people make comments like “It’s only because of his dad,” so it has another side, but I would definitely say that the good outweighs the bad. I love it.
I’ve definitely been watching a lot of Duke and Florida games, too. I think I’ve seen every Duke game this year; I mean, they’re always on ESPN so it’s pretty easy to follow them. I’ve been watching a lot of Florida games, too.
I think that Duke is doing great for what they have. I mean, they have really good players, but they’re not that dominant team that they’ve been in the past. Yet they’re still in the Top-10. And Florida is in a rebuilding process. They’re getting better and better. I’m looking forward to seeing these guys in person.
Right now, I know that I’m going to the Duke/North Carolina game in March. I’ll definitely be there for that, and I had planned to go to the Florida/Kentucky game, but I think my schedule is going to conflict with that. But it’s cool. I can go to Florida any time. My sister goes to college there and I’m up there all the time.
I still talk to the coaches all the time. I talked to Coach K the other day. He was telling me that he didn’t know I could jump so high; he had seen some video of me dunking on some guys. He didn’t know I was THAT athletic. Coach K is cool. We didn’t talk about the Georgetown game. I know that was tough for them. But like I said, Duke’s not as athletic as they were in the past and so that gave them problems. They’ll get things worked though, I’m sure.
I’m supposed to be calling Coach (Billy) Donovan this week. So it’s been good to form relationships with the coaches.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for now. Make sure you guys watch the game Friday! Until next time…
Austin, great to hear your ankle is better and I’m looking forward to watching your game Friday night on ‘The Duece’.
I am a long time Duke fan but live in Columbus, Ohio and have watched your brother play for Inadina against the hometown Buckeyes. Coach Crean has had to rebuild that Indiana program but I see some light at the end of the tunnel and your brother is a nice piece to that puzzle. I imagine it’s tough for you to get to any of his games but hope you can see him on TV occasionally.
I noticed you said you’ve watched most of the Duke games on TV this year because they are on the ESPN networks, Fox and CBS so much. That’s got to be something you’re goimng to consider when you make your college choice. Your dad, traveling around like he does on the Celtics NBA schedule, could easily keep up with your games and your play on TV if you are at Duke!! Ask him to talk to LA Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy about that because Mike Sr has said it was great watching abnd following his boy, Mike Jr, play his 3 years at Duke because they were on TV so much!!! Just something else to consider!! :->
Good luck on the rest of your year and stay healthy………. and happy!!
Rick
I’ll be watching Friday night. As good a match-up as there is in high school ball this year.
Duke loves Austin Rivers!! Let’s go Duke!!!
Great game against Pine Crest Austin! Hope to see you in Gainesville soon. Go Gators!
Hope the rest of your JR year is good and you have a great SR year. I’d love to see you play for the best coach in basketball Coach K at Duke.
[...] of the most captivating recruiting stories in the country. To read Austin Rivers’ Diary please click here Confirms he will be attending the Duke/UNC game in March. Diary courtesy of [...]
Well Austin it’s good to know that your ankle injury you have already over cone that but I like your game and your swag on the basketball court I am an baseball and track athlete but I find basketball interested for me and I always watch your videos and games of you