[mjayb77Participant]

He is out of the nbadraft.net mock draft, but I have to believe that he will declare for the 2012 NBA draft.  He will have a first round guarantee because his dad owns two first round picks.  

[Anton123Participant]

 his dad is a coach and doesn’t own any picks. Coaches don’t manage the team, they coach. 

And Austin Rivers is a first-round guarantee (I’d even say lottery) because he is a terrific scorer, not because he has some connections in the NBA.

At the start of the season I thought he might have to come back, but he has really picked it up and i’m pretty sure will declare for the draft.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Unless Austin Rivers plays terrible in the tourney, he will probably be coming out because his stock is high.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Who knows he may grow 2 inches in another year like Paul George

[So raspyParticipant]

 His game is so polished, he doesn’t have that much to gain from returning to school as compared to other guys who are still figuring themselves out. I’d be more suprised if he came back than if he declares. 

[mjayb77Participant]

I know that the team owns the picks, but Danny Ainge would certainly draft Austin knowing that he would vibe with his dad and a need for a 2-guard of the future.  My concern was why is he out of the draft?

 

[So raspyParticipant]

 they just moved him to 2013. 5th overall

[OhCanada-Participant]

Rivers has the most scoring potential in this draft in my own amateur opinion.

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 Austin Rivers does not need another year, he has picked up his play big time and his stock is at an all time high, I think it’s going to go even higher come tournament time, because I think he is the type of player that plays  to the level of his competition and in the tourney its all or nothing.

[akhan786Participant]

Some reasons he may come back:

1. His body is still pretty skinny and he needs to add some more weight to finish with the big boys

2. His decision making is questionable at times, and he sometimes makes some bonehead drives into defenders

3. Though he is quick and has an incredibly fast first step, his vertical is on par with Tyler Thornton (LOL) I can see his shot getting blocked a lot in the NBA

4. Still needs to work on his defense even though he has quietly become Duke’s best perimeter defender

5. He doesn’t really need the money, and if he came back he would a NPOY candidate and would increase his draft stock

Of course…this IS coming from a Duke fan who wants nothing more than him to come back!

[MalcolmxParticipant]

 How much more you think his vertical can improve. He can get up there I would believe he is at 35 inches

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 Arkham is right I don’t understand how people think freshman have nothing to gain by coming back.  The biggest improvements by players are from their freshman to sophomore years.  And sophomores have the highest rate of success in the NBA.  

If Rivers comes back he has a chance to lead the NCAA in scoring and lead Duke to a National Championship.  He also needs to get bigger, become a better defender, and become a better finisher at the rim.  

He should be in no rush to declare for the draft and he wouldn’t got top 5 this year but if he comes back he’s a nearly top 5 lock.

[BleedingBlueParticipant]

 As a Duke undergrad I would love to watch his game in person for free for one more year.. but I think he’s ready for the NBA already.

[Johnny Chill]

I have no idea, but I would like to see him get higher. Right now he gets a lot of his layup attempts blocked and I have yet to see him dunk in the half court.

[akhan786Participant]

@Mr. 19134 lol this is the second time you’ve done this bro but my name isn’t arkham. It’s akhan haha the A being my first initial and the khan being my last name. And I agree with you he needs another year. He came to Duke so that he can become a more team player and get better defensively. Coach K has already taught him that and Austin is one of our best perimeter defenders and is one of our leading passers. Now he just needs to work on the other details of his game and be the unquestioned "Man" for Duke next year.

@NYBALLA718 Surprisingly enough Austin Rivers’s vertical measured up to 31.5. I was at first surprised by this because of all the dunks he did in highschool and during the pro am. Do you know if players can increase their vertical dramatically in college? I think it’d be fun if Austin incorporated a couple half court dunks in his game.

[BleedingBlueParticipant]

 @akhan

Where did you find that Austin’s vertical is 31.5? It seems too low to me as well.

[akhan786Participant]

@BleedBlue http://www.blueplanetshots.com/2011-12/Players/Miles-Wins-THE-BELT/21618928_SHvSPt#!i=1724086359&k=wFscPpJ&lb=1&s=X3

If you look really closely and zoom in, Rivers is 6th on the Vertical jump section with a 31.5 after Dawkins and before Thornton.

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