[delfamParticipant]

IMO it’s still very unlikely that Kyrie Irving comes back next year, but say he does, does Austin Rivers decommit from Duke.

IMO Rivers needs to play PG in college to prove to scouts he can and if he wants to make it in the NBA he’ll have to be a PG. If that’s the case and Irving comes back, would it be in Rivers best interest to go elsewhere?

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Dont be surprise to see Rivers spend some time at small forward next year…Seth Curry and Dawkins might be the starting backcourt next year….

[delfamParticipant]

that’s my point though, why do these guys go to colleges where the don’t play there position. Rivers is a PG and really only a PG in the NBA, why go to Duke if your not the main PG? It won’t hurt his stock much but he won’t improve as much as playing PG full-time.

[QUINCEY HODGES1]

he would still go. you dont have to play point guard in college to prove you are a point guard. The NBA team that drafts you will just move you to the point and see if you can develop into one ala Russell Westbrook. Most players in college play out of position compared to the position they will play in the NBA. Centers play PF shooting guards play SF etc

[delfamParticipant]

@Quincey, but isn’t that detrimental to Austin, wouldn’t he improve more playing PG in college than at SG? I’d also think if he’s a true PG he’d want the ball in his hand and run the team.

[QUINCEY HODGES1]

Nope because right now he’s a scorer and that’s what he should come to college to do. You dont need to play a specific position in order for a NBA team to know or think they know you can play a different one in the NBA.

[delfamParticipant]

still think your wrong, why not play PG in college for a year and refine your skills. I’ve seen him in high school and I actually don’t think he can play PG in the NBA. If I was a scout I’d want to see him play it in college or I wouldn’t risk taking him in the draft with a high pick.

Also, if he really has that PG mentality, he’d want to play PG in college and be that leader of the team and run the offense, if he plays SG in college I just don’t think he’ll be a legit PG in the NBA cause he doesn’t have the mentality.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

I don’t think Rivers will play the 1 in the NBA, and he will play the 2 next year regardless of whether or not Irving comes back. 

Also, Rivers would love to play with Irving and has said so, so I have no idea where you are coming from on that. 

One question a lot of people ask me is whether or not we’re going to see an Irving-Rivers backcourt at Duke. I don’t know if that’s going to happen or not. If it did I think we’d be really tough to stop. There are a lot of factors that everyone has to consider with the NBA stuff happening, and it is really early. But, if it did happen I think it’s fair to say our team would be really tough to defend. Kyrie is one of the best players around and he makes everyone so much better.

Rivers is also  reportedly 6’5 in socks now, making him probably 6’6 in shoes, which is plenty big enough to play shooting guard in the NBA. Rivers is a scorer, and that’s what he’ll be at Duke and in the League. 

As for me I’ve grown over the last month or so. I measured out the other day at 6-foot-5 without sneakers on and I’ve been lifting weights like crazy. I think I’ll be around 6’5 and a half and around 200 when I get to school next year. 

 

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Stephen Curry played shooting guard at Davidson.

[delfamParticipant]

you don’t think he’ll play 1 in the NBA? If he wants to start he will, that’s my point, he’s 6’3", where is there a good SG int he NBA that short, I don’t think there is one. If he really wants to start in NBA he’ll learn to play PG.

[QUINCEY HODGES1]

You can name a couple of players who played a different position in college. Teams look at what the player shows in workouts and what they think a guy can play in the NBA to determine what position they play. If you’re as good as Austin it doesn’t matter what position you play in college.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

I just quoted him saying that he’s 6’5 in socks if you look above.

[QUINCEY HODGES1]

Height doesn’t mean much if you are good enough to do work. Monta Ellis is a prime example and Rivers game resembles his. If he wants to start all he has to do is continue to play his game and get better. there are undersized good players at every position these days

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

Agreed, even if Rivers is exaggerating and he’s only 6’3 he’s still going to be a 2 in the NBA. He just isn’t a point guard, that’s not his game. I can see him being a cross between Monta Ellis and OJ Mayo.

[NJHooper95Participant]

I think delfam has a little point. Im sure Austin will want the ball in his hand alot and if kyrie comes back then that wont happen as much. You must also note that Quin COOK has committed to duke as well. Cook is a good pg in his own right. Whether Austin plays the two r one, I think you will be looking at a shaky situation with SETH, DAWKINS, IRVING, RIVERS, and COOK. I think the plan is to graduate Nolan Smith and Kyrie will be one and done so Cook and Rivers can come right in and contribute. So the possiblility of Cook or Rivers Decommitting or wanting out is not far fetched should Irving return.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

Next years starting lineup:

Cook

Dawkins

Rivers

Mason (Assuming he comes back)

Kelly

Curry is the 6th man. 

With Irving:

Irving

Dawkins

Rivers

Mason 

Kelly 

 

And I can guarantee you that Rivers won’t decommit, he has said that he hopes he gets a chance to play with Kyrie. But also, Rivers will start at any school in the country, he isn’t scared of anyone. If Kyrie comes back, which is a big if, than Cook simply won’t play a lot his Freshmen year and then will move into the starting role as a sophomore. 

[QUINCEY HODGES1]

Has anyone ever de-committed from duke(other than to go to the NBA)?..Players commit knowing there are other All Americans there and other Older players who have started for more than a year. There’s a reason these players are McDonald’s All Americans other than skill and that is confidence. They believe that no matter who is there they are gonna start, they dont view things like a fan may view things and think " man i might not start or play much because so and so is there or might return" they think " yeah yeah that dude is awwwwight but I’d punish him, i dont care if he is considered a player of the year".  Rivers is a guy who played on the u19 team with Kyrie and other guys who were on there way to college or already in college and was not only the best player on the team but straight dominated every other country and was the best player in the whole tournament.

 

Transferring is possible for some players if they go there thinking they are better then the players  and recruits then find out after a season or two that they aren’t. There has been a couple of duke recruits who have done that

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

^Kris Humphries

[QUINCEY HODGES1]

That story is pretty well known out here in Utah. He wanted to be one and done and Coach K offense was built more on team. He felt if he went to another team who wasn’t as good he could put up monster numbers and get drafted higher than expected. And it worked

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

Yea, it’s actually kind of weird, because he almost assuredly would have started at Duke and put up good numbers. We were really good that year, but I still think he would have started at the 4 and put up good numbers. I guess it worked out well for him though, as you said he got exactly what he wanted. 

[QUINCEY HODGES1]

yeah he would have. Kris was kind of a selfish player back then. He was more about me me then team. He rather put up good numbers on a OK team then just be a OK player in a good system on a very good team. There are alot of players like that ( i was like that for a season) where if you had a bad game and y’all won you weren’t too happy but you were cool if you’re team lost but you had a very good or great game

[NJHooper95Participant]

Yes players do de-commit from duke. Actually CARRICK FELIX a great athlete out Southern Idaho JuCo decommited from the class of 2010. He was suppose to join Kyrie Irving in this class. So people do actually turn away from Duke.

[QUINCEY HODGES1]

That’s understandable since he wasn’t one of the best of the best. i think i said top players don’t de-commit. i expect those who aren’t as good as the other players to de-commit because they know for a fact they will prob get Lil to no time. what top rank player de-committed because they were worried about not playing much. 99.9 percent Austin is going to Duke. The .1 percent is if the NBA changes there no HS player rule. This is the same as those that say " so and so could still grow during his Soph year" yeah it can happen  but chances are very very very slim

[JoeWolf1]

 It’s not even a matter of playing small forward.  Plenty of college teams run a 3 guard lineup and then a zone on defense unless the other team is undersized or running a similar lineup.  Playing in a potential 3 guard line won’t hurt his development as long as he has plenty of touches and chances to set up and run the offense, which IMO he will.

[Demarcus OnealParticipant]

Rivers played with Irving on the Team USA U-18 world championships and said that he loved playing with Irving and hoped they would play together. Also Rivers is not a point guard he has a scorer mentality and looks for his shot first and foremost, Irving and him would be a nasty backcourt

[sheltwon3Participant]

Stephon Curry was a point guard for one year and is making a excellent point guard in the league and before that he was a shooting guard and main go to scorer.  I think Austin Rivers will be find whereever he plays as long as he can get some experience running the offense before he gets drafted.

[dolla130Participant]

it kinda doesnt matter if he plays point or not in college,if kyrie is there or not if the nba feels he is a better pg then sg then thats what he will play deron williams also played the 2 in college because they had a good pg in dee brown,bledsoe because of wall,westbrook because of collison so im  not worried about it

[Ghost01Participant]

Obviously, he still goes to Duke.

Eric Bledsoe could have started almost anywhere, and committed to Kentucky after John Wall was there. Hes already a starting PG in the NBA.

Rivers can play the 2, and can still fully prove hes a 1. And being on a GREAT team, thats on national TV everyday is more important than playing the 1. Rivers would be in the spotlight all the time, and playing with Irving would make him better.

[Ghost01Participant]

Obviously, he still goes to Duke.

Eric Bledsoe could have started almost anywhere, and committed to Kentucky after John Wall was there. Hes already a starting PG in the NBA.

Rivers can play the 2, and can still fully prove hes a 1. And being on a GREAT team, thats on national TV everyday is more important than playing the 1. Rivers would be in the spotlight all the time, and playing with Irving would make him better.

[Ghost01Participant]

Obviously, he still goes to Duke.

Eric Bledsoe could have started almost anywhere, and committed to Kentucky after John Wall was there. Hes already a starting PG in the NBA.

Rivers can play the 2, and can still fully prove hes a 1. And being on a GREAT team, thats on national TV everyday is more important than playing the 1. Rivers would be in the spotlight all the time, and playing with Irving would make him better.

[Ghost01Participant]

Obviously, he still goes to Duke.

Eric Bledsoe could have started almost anywhere, and committed to Kentucky after John Wall was there. Hes already a starting PG in the NBA.

Rivers can play the 2, and can still fully prove hes a 1. And being on a GREAT team, thats on national TV everyday is more important than playing the 1. Rivers would be in the spotlight all the time, and playing with Irving would make him better.

[Ghost01Participant]

Obviously, he still goes to Duke.

Eric Bledsoe could have started almost anywhere, and committed to Kentucky after John Wall was there. Hes already a starting PG in the NBA.

Rivers can play the 2, and can still fully prove hes a 1. And being on a GREAT team, thats on national TV everyday is more important than playing the 1. Rivers would be in the spotlight all the time, and playing with Irving would make him better.

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

He and Irving are very close friends. There is no way he decommits if Irving stays, which I don’t believe Irving will. Yes, Rivers probably wants the ability to make plays off the dribble, but with or without Irving he was never going to be a full-time point guard for Duke. He is a scorer who can play some point, but all of his distributive ability is created because of his scoring ability, so it doesn’t make much sense to have him be the full time lead guard in charge of creating for others. 6’4 is a little undersized but with his quickness off the dribble, handles, and quick release on his jumper there is no question he can play the 2 at the pro level.

I’m not saying he is yet in the league of these guys, but Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade are both playmaking 2-guards and I highly doubt either one of them would pass up the chance to play with Chris Paul.

[delfamParticipant]

My thoughts are just that If he really had that PG mentality of leading a team and running an offense he’d want to go to a team he could lead and play PG. My only thing is I don’t think he can play SG in the NBA, and because he’s going to Duke I don’t think he has the PG mentality, but I think he needs to play PG if he wants to atleast start in the NBA.

[McDunkin]

dont forget about Tyler Thornton. He is a great pg and reminds me alot of Dukes own  Sean Dockery. I could see him getting a chance to start IF Irving doesnt come back.On the other hand, I can also see him transferring over the summer.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

^Not every player comes to Duke thinking he’s going to start for four years. Some people are just role players. Much like Dockery, Thornton will be a role player and probably a really good one, who will end up starting a few games. Thornton knew he was going to be recruited over when he committed. Just because a player isn’t going to play a ton doesn’t mean they will transfer.  

[estebansfParticipant]

First of all, this is my first post so I’m really pumped up. But about Felix, I don’t think he qualified academically or there was another issue as Duke dismissed him from campus before the school year. Also, watching Winter Park and Rivers he does look 6’5 when standing next to Gilchrist (6’7) so he shouldn’t have any problem playing shooting guard in the NBA. Rivers is a scorer, and while he has good court vision, he could be like a Lebron from the shooting guard spot. A scorer who, when doubled, can create for others and pass the rock. Right now, in high school, his teammates aren’t that good so he doesn’t pass but he is still not a point guard. At Duke, no matter who the other players on the floor are, he will be a scorer and he will also be one in the NBA.

[estebansfParticipant]

First of all, this is my first post so I’m really pumped up. But about Felix, I don’t think he qualified academically or there was another issue as Duke dismissed him from campus before the school year. Also, watching Winter Park and Rivers he does look 6’5 when standing next to Gilchrist (6’7) so he shouldn’t have any problem playing shooting guard in the NBA. Rivers is a scorer, and while he has good court vision, he could be like a Lebron from the shooting guard spot. A scorer who, when doubled, can create for others and pass the rock. Right now, in high school, his teammates aren’t that good so he doesn’t pass but he is still not a point guard. At Duke, no matter who the other players on the floor are, he will be a scorer and he will also be one in the NBA.

[Author]

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