Ed -

This would appear to be good news for us re: Rivers; correct? Rivers is going to want the ball in his hands from day one. Won't that be difficult now with Irving in Durham?

Not really good news (not really news at all - everyone knew he was going to Duke) - Rivers has talked with Irving about playing together in a 3 guard lineup. Watch Rivers closely in the next few days.

Rivers has also talked with Knight and Boynton about playing in a 3-guard lineup. Actions speak louder than words, however. In the one full Team Stat AAU game I viewed, Rivers and Knight took turns playing off the ball, and neither ever seemed 100% comfortable letting the other run the team. How do you think Rivers is going to feel about playing the SF spot in a 3-guard lineup?

Rivers, Knight, and Irving all want the ball in their hands, because they all project as PGs in the NBA. Rivers may be saying all the right things, but he is going to go to a school where he can be the lead guard from day one. That formula worked for his dad at Marquette and he is going to follow Doc's path. It's nice that Austin's sister plays for UF (Volleyball), but I believe she will graduate before he attends his first class. UConn may be the biggest threat because of the proximity to his father.

In the end, I think this is the best scenario we can hope for:

- Cory Joseph goes to UConn
- Ray McCallum goes to UCLA
- Irving goes to Duke
- Kendall Marshall goes to UNC
- They each play at least two years
- Knight goes to UF; one-and-done
- Wall one-and-done at UK, but Bledsoe plays three years
- Rivers comes to UF to take over Knight's spot

I think that was a well thought out post, and you're pretty much right on the money. That assumes, however, that Knight is a one and done. Some people think he will play more than one year. Assuming Knight comes here, does Rivers want to wait until after the draft deadline to make a decision?

Also, there's the idea that Rivers may reclassify to the 2010 class, so you have to consider the impact of that decision.

quote:

Originally posted by Osiris:
I think that was a well thought out post, and you're pretty much right on the money. That assumes, however, that Knight is a one and done. Some people think he will play more than one year. Assuming Knight comes here, does Rivers want to wait until after the draft deadline to make a decision?

Also, there's the idea that Rivers may reclassify to the 2010 class, so you have to consider the impact of that decision.

You are absolutely right. If Rivers is part of the 2010 class, it changes everything. I'm hoping he stays part of the 2011 class, as he and Knight are even less likely to come to the same school in the same class. As I've said before, "A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush." Let's focus now on bringing in Knight with Young and Prather (assuming that Rivers remains a 2011) and let the chips fall where they may after that.