Flash Freeze: Austin Rivers

  Engulfed in darkness and doubts, the nation's number one basketball recruit emerges from his father's dominant shadow and seeks his own glory at, as he describes, the most hated school in basketball. Since birth he has been surrounded by basketball success and competition, particularly by the strong influence of his father, Doc Rivers. This amazing athlete demonstrated flashes of greatness as he carried his YMCA summer league teams, coached by his mother, into substantial victories over greater opponents. He exudes confidence and sophistication formed by meeting NBA greats such as Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Lebron James. A cultured young man seeks the rewards of his labor as he creates a name for himself through his own accomplishments on and off the court compared to being glanced upon by those who appreciate the glory of his father.
Austin Rivers (PG/SG) #0:
  Young players often have a tough time adapting to the speed and toughness of collegiate play, but Rivers possesses superior maturity to his peers. As a senior, at Winter Park High (FL), he averaged 28.8 points per games, 6.1 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game and 2.0 steals. Alongside his brilliant performances, Rivers is a proven winner as he claims two state championship titles. It was this year when all the awards and accolades gravitated towards this year's number one basketball recruit including 2011 McDonald's All American honors, 2011 Jordan Brand All American honors, 2011 Naismith Player of the Year, 2011 Wooten Player of the Year, and the 2011 Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida.
  Rivers can handle the likes of pressure and the forces intertwined with a big program such as Duke because he wants and demands the ball in pressure situations. He is a cold-blooded assassin, freezing the defense and knocking down contested threes' with ice in his veins.
  This Duke bound guard enjoys going to his right the majority of times when he has the rock, but if pressured towards his left he does not attack with the same tenacity. When playing to his left he is reduced to relying on step-back jumpers for the majority of his offense. Also, he should be in a stance on defense more often especially away from the ball and as his competition increases at the next level. Rivers hovers around too much seeking a steal, rather than playing solid defense of his assignment  resulting in easy baskets and habits of gambling too much.
  Rivers is undeniably this year's most prolific offensive player. He is undaunted when attacking any type of defense. His smooth shooting stroke and ferocious, attacking offensive style are required for a successful season after the departure of leading finishers Kyrie Irving and Nolan Smith. Coach K will utilize Rivers' scoring capacity by beginning the season with Rivers off the ball where he can focus on splashing the net rather than distributing and managing the Blue Devil offense. On a team so obviously lacking in leadership, this recruit may be forced to take on more responsibilities. Rivers may not have as complete of a skill set as Irving, but it will take little time for him to surpass Irving's skills and talents. Rivers is an offensive-minded play maker who will be a force on the court and impact next year's chase for the NCAA title.



 

Trinity: Distant Supremacy

  A flash of white and blue hovers above the air, rising above an unsuspecting defender, and launches a ball over an ineffective defensive plan once again as the net splashes seconds later complimented by the piercing screams of a fan base so intertwined with the culture of Provo. His battle cry is heard by the devoted fans residing in the top tiers of the Marriott Center, an upcoming arena filled to the the brim with passion and intimidation to all those who don't adorn themselves with BYU pride. A small town hero reignites a basketball community, which has been laid unmoved in dormancy for decades, with shots heaved at any spot on the floor and scoring drives with nearly the entire opposing effort resting upon his back through each decisive movement.With his departure, a community shifts their gaze towards a bleak future and an uncertain journey through uncharted territory with unproven competitors.

Jimmer Fredette (PG) #32:
     Jimmer Fredette became a national phenomenon with his unbelievable range and humility, which shone every time he was interviewed or dissected by analysts all over the nation. His compelling scoring average of 28.9 points-per-game, over 37 games, and adoration for the long ball, raising on a dime and launching the ball into the net with ease, created the opportunity to exceed such point totals of 40 or more points on the biggest stages. He also averaged a solid 3.4 rebounds per game, as well as 4.3 assists per game. Fredette carried an experienced and prepared team into the NCAA tournament for the second straight year with expectations of a deeper and more successful run than the previous year.
     Struggling with no low post threat offensively or defensively due to the suspension of Brandon Davies, Jimmer exploded in prime time and lifted his team to the Sweet 16, for the first time in 30 years, where they lost to the overpowering and athletic Florida Gators team. By the end, Jimmer Fredette became a national superstar and rewrote the record books at BYU with his undeniable offensive prowess. These few considerations made it impossible to oppose the reasoning of the numerous national accolades he received at the end of his historical career. His achievements propose that he has surpassed Danny Ainge as the best basketball player in BYU's history.
     As Jimmer enters into this year's NBA draft, he is projected to be a top 15 pick. Analysts suggest that he'll be selected at number 7 by the Sacramento Kings or be selected by familiar faces at number 12 by the Utah Jazz to satisfy the local fan base. Fredette is undeniably an amazing shooter, but he can also score by putting the ball on the floor and use his strength and balance to finish under the rim with contact. Defenders are worried about his shot, but they should always stay on their toes because Jimmer's capacity to keep it on the ground and score is also a hidden strength of his game.
     Fredette's strengths are just as evident as his weaknesses. NBA coaches and scouts question his athleticism at the professional level on both sides of the floor. Can a guard his size contend with greater athletes in the pros? It will take some time, but I believe Jimmer will be able to defend NBA point guards as he gets use to the athleticism and speed of the game. If he is conditioned, then he'll adapt and play at a high level for the 82 game regular-season and possibly make an appearance in next year's play-offs.

 

Trinity: Dominant Advantage

   As a basketball lightly brushes the cold surface of a regulation rim and begins to roll into a pit of vicious claws, a blurred personage soars through the obstacles presented in front of him and throws down the teetering ball with undeniable authority and tenacity. The surrounding crowd of blue and red shakes with elation as this year's possible number one draft pick flashes his chiseled physique and allows his broken smile to glimmer under the lights. He absorbs the atmosphere as he glides over to his bench during the timeout called by his opponent, who quakes in fear and realizes the plan devised to stop this ferocious athlete has just been deemed futile in the opening minutes.
Derrick Williams (SF/PF) #23:
   Derrick Williams, an Arizona Wildcat, surged into national relevance as a sophomore. He averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game during the 2010-2011 season. Also, Williams led the NCAA in True Shooting percentage at 69 percent, as well as Effective Field Goal percentage at 65 percent creating the opportunity to capture a regular season PAC-10 championship. He was announced as the Pac-10 Player of the Year. Williams also strengthened his resigme as a player by leading his team into a deep run of the NCAA men's basketball tournament with dominant victories over the highly regarded Texas Longhorns and the heralded Duke Blue Devils. Williams' combination of power forward strength and shooting ability allowed him to dominate the glass on both sides of the floor with brutal blocks on one end and relentless dunks over helpless defenders on the other.
  Williams (6-9, 250 pounds) can play both forward positions. He's a great athlete and can get his shot off well. The 6'9" forward plays like he's much taller and is as agile and explosive as a solid point guard. Williams averaged about 20 points and nine rebounds per game in the 2010-11 season, while shooting around 60 percent from three. He’s going to obviously have to improve on the defensive end.
Williams is a very good kid as well, very prepared to enter into the NBA. He also has a commendable understanding of himself and the game.
  This special player possesses some key intangibles that will be nearly impossible to observe in the upcoming draft. Most importantly, he's a proven winner. Williams demonstrated this principle by   willing the Wildcats to wins the past two seasons as a leader who shouldered the load offensively and defensively each and every minute he was on the floor.
  It will take Williams a bit of time, but his aptitude for shooting the long ball, the innate quality to score, and his leadership will allow him to become a distinguished player. Williams has the capacity, if he works hard and soaks in the advice from coaches, to be an overpowering and elite small forward in this league.

Trinity: A Beginning

  It's once again that time where the Larry O'Brien trophy is hoisted in the air and a team is permeating with victory and seeks the comfort of their loyal fans and beloved family after battling with the most talented and vicious athletes in the world for months, for the other teams it is finally time for the suffocating clouds of depression and lack of success to be lifted and their gaze to be shifted to the 2011 NBA Draft which is encompassed with the hope of clawing into next year's play-offs and competing for a chance to be presented their own trophy.
  I'll be addressing the top draft pick in this year's upcoming draft, even though this draft is being described as one of the weakest in years due to the looming possibility of an NBA lock out because the ending of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. As with all who entered this draft, I'll take a leap of faith and allow my talents and hard work to help me evaluate this top player.
Kyrie Irving (PG) #1:
  Kyrie is an amazing athlete and competitior who found himself as the number one recruit in the nation and relied on Coach K's past expierience and successes to mold him into the number one pick in this year's draft. Irving had an unbelievable season as a Blue Devil. He led Duke in scoring with 17.5 points, shooting 53 percent, and averaging 4.3 assists per game, but this star point-guard only played eleven games due to a nagging toe injury. Irving is a lot bigger than you would think. He’s a good-sized point guard. He’s 6-3 and a legit 6-3, not 6-feet or 6-1. Also, he does have a great feel for the game and a polished jumpshot suggesting that he'll become an immdeiate contributor on the floor.
  Irving still has weaknesses in his style of play which questions his position of being the No. 1 overall pick. Irving is a good athlete but not a great one; he doesn’t have the quickness or speed, as well as the strength to become an elite point guard in the league. Kyrie Irving isn't a bad prospect, but in a normal draft, he wouldn't be selcted in the first couple of picks, but he does have the basic tools to become a solid point guard.
  Irving’s performance as a point guard, which has been a major void for the Cavaliers, will hopefully bring a little bit of excitement, but it will not erase the horrendous record of last year's team of 19-63 or the trail of broken hearts left by Lebron James.