#2 National Recruit, Kentucky’s Anthony Davis Put up Quadruple Double

March 30, 2011 By 2 Comments

anthony davis

McDonald’s announced four male and four female finalists today for the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award. The annual award, named after DeMatha High School coaching legend Morgan Wootten, recognizes the nation’s top boys and girls high school senior student-athletes. In addition to their skills on the court, the winners must demonstrate outstanding character and exhibit leadership, both in the classroom and in the community. Winners will be announced March 15, 2011.

Each male finalist is rated in the top five of the ESPNU 100 list. In alphabetical order: Anthony Davis (Perspectives Charter School – Chicago, Ill.) the guy who had a quadruple double in a high school game, Michael Gilchrist (St. Patrick High School – Elizabeth, N.J.) Davis’ future teammate next year at Kentucky, James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian – Norfolk, Va.) and Austin Rivers (Winter Park High School – Winter Park, Fla.).

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The Influence of Doc Rivers on his son and Super Recruit Austin

March 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Last night, Duke super-recruit Austin Rivers, the number one overall prospect in the class of 2011, rocked the McDonald’s All-American Game skills competition known as Powerade Jam Fest. What event elicited the loudest roar from the crowd at the Chicago State Convocation Center? Austin revealing his warm-up to display his father’s old school Atlanta Hawks #25 jersey while competing in the dunk competition.

The gesture signified how close the father-son duo truly is.

“We have a normal father-son relationship, I go to him for the same things that a kid would go to his father,” Austin said about his Dad Glenn “Doc” Rivers.

“But when it comes to basketball, I do go to him a lot because he knows the game well. He does coach me at times, but he never forces me or pushes me.”

By Paul M. Banks

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Meet the Nation’s #1 Recruit: Austin Rivers, Duke Blue Devils

March 28, 2011 By 2 Comments

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Wednesday night, the McDonald’s All-American game hits Chicago, and with it a showcase of the greatest high school talent in the country. Which means you’ll also see the best freshmen in next year’s college basketball season on display; as well as a few lottery picks in the 2012 NBA Draft.

And there’s no bigger name than Austin Rivers, a Duke Blue Devils commit that who has taken home the Morgan Wooten Player of the Year Award and the Parade Magazine POY. Rivers talked about why he choose Duke.

“I just looked at a school that fit in with my style of play, and I developed a great relationship with Coach K.,” Rivers said. ”

And I could see myself getting better as a person and a player.”

By Paul M. Banks

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Bulls Take Over 1st in East, Celtics Doc Rivers Shows Great Respect

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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It was a day of mixed results for Glenn “Doc” Rivers, the Head Coach of the Boston Celtics. The Chicago native returned home to be with (and congratulate) his son Austin Rivers, as he was named winner of the 2011 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award today for his accomplishments on and off the court. He is after all, the #1 college basketball recruit in the nation (headed to Duke).

Obviously, that’s the highlight of his day. Here’s the bad.

With the Chicago Bulls (48-18) win over the Washington Wizards, his Boston Celtics (47-18) are now currently seeded #2 in the NBA‘s Eastern Conference.

By Paul M. Banks

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Duke Recruit Austin Rivers Takes Home National Player of the Year Award

March 15, 2011 By 3 Comments

austin rivers

Austin Rivers, the #1 college basketball recruit in the nation (headed to Duke) was named winner of the 2011 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award today for his accomplishments on and off the court.

Rivers, the 6-3, 200 lb. prep star from Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Fla. has been selected as first-team All-State since his freshman year. Rivers is the son of Boston Celtics coach and 1980 McDonald’s All American Glenn “Doc” Rivers. The pair represents only the second father/son duo in the event’s history behind Milt Wagner (1981) and son Dajuan Wagner (2001). “Doc” Rivers, the Head Coach of the Boston Celtics, currently seeded #2 in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, made the trip to Chicago today to surprise and congratulate his son at the official press conference.

Rivers became the fifteenth winner of the annual male Morgan Wootten Award. Previous winners include Harrison Barnes (2010), Kevin Love (2007), Dwight Howard (2004), LeBron James (2003), Jason Williams (1999) and the award’s first recipient Shane Battier (1997). Rivers beat out finalists Anthony Davis (Perspectives Charter School – Chicago, Ill.), Michael Gilchrist (St. Patrick High School – Elizabeth, N.J.) and James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian – Norfolk, Va.).

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