Roscoe Smith visited the Duke campus [private] yesterday and sources close to the situation say the visit went well. He arrived at Duke on Saturday morning and stay until just before the football game before heading back to Oak Hill Academy for the start of his high school season. The Smiths seemed to have enjoyed themselves during the unofficial affair. The Duke staff will travel to Oak Hill Academy on September the 17th to watch him in an open workout. More on the visit is coming. [/private]
As you know by now Roscoe Smith is slated to visit Duke this coming week. The visit [private] caught Duke off guard because it was not planned until recently. Despite that, Duke is elated to have him visit, especially Nate James one of the lead recruiters with Smith. After his visit to Durham, Smith will head to Oak Hill Academy where he will ready for the start of the school year. Our understanding is that Duke will set up an in home visit with Smith in the near future. Smith still has a standing offer but nobody expects him to pull the trigger soon.
Tyler Thornton and Josh Hairston's official in home visits will take place September the 20th. Hairston, of course, transferred to Montrosse Christian Academy. Duke is ironing out last minute details on "Countdown to Craziness," an event that will take place on October the 16th. The event will kick off the fast approaching season and should be a lot of fun. The aforementioned Hairston and Thornton will attend the event. There are other visitors in the works for that day as well, more on that later.
While Brandon Knight expands his list of schools, it may interest you to know that Duke is working on an in home visit in September. One must remember that Duke has kept their name in there for a good while now. While they would like be happy with Kyrie Irving pulling the trigger quickly, they are covering the bases. In fact, Duke seems to still have some type of back-up plans should Irving and Barnes suddenly sour. Speaking of Kyrie Irving, Duke will be in-home with Kyrie on September the 9th. Harrison Barnes is slated for October the 5th. Please check past updates for the official visit dates. Duke is waiting for the Rivers camp to solidify a visit, but they are not pushing for it, instead allowing them to do on their time. Austin Rivers is still expected to visit in September. There is word that the visit will coincide with one to UNC as well.
Mason Plumlee will room with Ryan Kelly this season. Both players continue to work hard in the weight room under Williams Stephenson. Miles Plumlee has the highest measured vertical leap on the team. When standing side by side with Mason, their hands raised, Miles has about a four-inch reach advantage. Lance Thomas is the team's strongest player in the weight room.
Recruiting analysis - With Barnes now saying he will take until spring to make a decision, Duke is covering the bases with Smith, a player who has shown a decent amount of interest in Duke. Duke was obviously hoping Barnes would decide in October. The same holds true with Kyrie Irving, who Duke will be all over this month. Duke feels really good about their chances with both kids, but they need one of them to go ahead and verbal no later than October so they can move on with plans for 2011 and 2012. Other prospects holding offers are Quincy Miller, Marshall Plumlee and J.P. Tokoto.
We'll add an addendum to this post a bit later. Thanks for your patience while I took a mini break and sorry for the run-on post in that I am suddenly having format issues.[/private]
Austin Rivers, a nearly 6’5” guard from Winter Park, Florida, was a basketball prodigy who has been on the radar of scouts since he was in middle school. The fact that his father is Glenn “Doc” Rivers, a thirteen year NBA veteran and current head coach of the Boston Celtics, and his older brother Jeremiah was a high-major player at Georgetown and currently is at Indiana only heightened his notoriety. Austin committed to the then twice-defending National Champion University of Florida Gators in the July immediately following his freshman season at Winter Park High School.
This past summer, Rivers was teamed up briefly with Gatorade Player of the Year, Brandon Knight, on the AAU circuit for Each One Teach One (FL). He was also one of the top performers throughout the live period at the LeBron James Skills Academy, the Peach Jam, and the AAU Nationals, where he was closely observed by Duke‘s Mike Krzyzewski. Recently, the industrious and confident young man made headlines by telling the Sporting News that he was going to visit several schools. Before the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game in New York, Austin Rivers sat down with Blue Devil Nation to discuss a wide variety of topics, including what he is looking for on his upcoming visits, his business-like approach to basketball, why he initially chose Florida, his experience with Brandon Knight, and why he’d like the current coach of the Celtics to be known as Austin Rivers’ dad.
There was that recent piece in the Sporting News. The noteworthy part was that it mentioned that you were going to visit other schools out of respect for your father. Can you expound on your decision and did your mother recommend that as well?
Not really. It was mostly me and my father. You know after seeing what happened to my brother…You know he went to college and had a tough time, you know, getting comfortable. You know seeing that he made the wrong choice by going to Georgetown.
I was going to ask you about Jeremiah in a moment.
Yeah, you know, just out of respect for my dad, I wanted to go look at, you know, a couple of other programs. You know just in case something happens. You never know with Coach Donovan. With the caliber of coach he is, he may get an offer. You never know. I just wanted to go out of respect..
Well, you also committed at a relatively young age.
Yeah, exactly, I committed at a really young age just because…
Were you feeling a lot of pressure at the time?
Yeah, well, at the age...I mean, when I got offered, you know Florida was just coming off of two national championships.
Right, right, there was probably also some hometown pressure.
Yeah, exactly, the hometown school so, you know, everybody was like “Whoa, Florida.” So, at the time, you know, I was like why wouldn’t I go there? They have everything right. So, you know, that was why I chose to go there and, you know, I still love it. I’m still as committed as I was when I first committed. It’s just that I want to look at other schools, in case anything ever happened.
Sure, have you finalized a list of schools that you intend on visiting yet?
Yeah, I’m going to try to go up to look at Duke [This preview is a small sample of in depth interview] [private] and then Carolina. Then I’ll look at UConn and UCLA.
Do you know of any definitive dates when you’ll be visiting?
Not yet, I’m trying to get it done before school starts. Maybe, actually, school starts on Monday so..
Wow, school starts on the Wednesday after Labor Day in New York
Wow, do they really? Yeah, well, in the next couple of weeks, I’m going to try to, well, before it gets busy with high school, I’m going to try to go over to Duke.
Will your whole family be making the trip?
No, it’ll probably just be me, my dad, and my coach. And then I’ll try to knock out Carolina at the same time. And then later try to visit the other ones. I can visit UConn when I go up to visit my dad in Boston.
What insights are you looking to gain from the visits? The article wasn’t very specific, as to what you were looking for?
(pauses) I just want to see what other schools have to offer, you know. I want to see what makes Florida the school for me. You know there are many good reasons for Florida, but you know I would like to see what are some good reasons for the other schools. What makes UConn have all of these great players come out of there every year and the same thing for Duke? And why do they have that rep? You know that’s why I want to go see them.
Do you feel you were, in a sense, robbed of that opportunity to look around by committing at such a young age?
Yeah
To an extent ..
Exactly right. You know I like Florida because, in the past six years, I think Florida has won the most NCAA Championships and I don’t think people realize that. I think when I get there, we could have a really good program, where we could start maybe a dynasty or a rep that Duke and them have.
Having watched your brother go through the process at Georgetown and Indiana , what have you learned and what has Jeremiah recommended to you in terms of going through the process as well as preparing for college basketball?
To be smart and..
Are you guys very close, by the way?
We’re definitely close. We’re real close. If he’s in town, we go everywhere together. We go everywhere. He’s recommended to me to just stay focused. Stay focused because you’re not going to come in and just own the program. You know it’s very rare.
Well, that touches on another point. I think it can be really helpful to younger brothers to have a close relative, who has been through the experience and can pass along the potential pitfalls and can help them learn from their mistakes or challenges. I thought Kevin Love, who had a great freshman season, did a good job of expressing the difficulties and challenges of taking the next steps to both the college level and the pro level.
You know, exactly, exactly. You’ve just got to go in with the right mindset.
I mean I know you’re dominating high school kids, but there’s a big step between that and playing against the best players in college basketball on a routine basis.
Yeah, it’s a huge step. And then I know there’s a big step between college and the NBA.
Sure.
College is a whole different thing. Those are grown men out there as well. So, you know, going to college is going to be a huge step, but you know I’ll work hard and I think I have enough determination to where I think I can change a program.
Okay, on the court, what have been the things that your father has recommended you work on most? Is he generally supportive or critical?
Just help-side defense...score on that. Just getting better on defense and my awareness. Oh, and my strength.
I was going to ask you about that next because, in an interview you did fifteen months ago, you said that your jump shot was your biggest strength and your physical strength was your biggest weakness. Do you still feel that to be the case?
Yeah, I do and I’ve actually gotten a lot stronger
Well, then I guess how have you addressed that?
Yeah, I’ve definitely gotten stronger. I’ve added to my strength and starting in a few weeks, well, that’s when I’m going to start lifting weights heavy. I’m probably going to be..
Do you have good facilities at the school or do you work out at home?
Yeah, yeah, we have good facilities there, but I go elsewhere.
You work out at a private gym?
Yeah, I work out at a gym not at my house. I have a guy that I lift with and I’m hoping that it’ll help me add maybe ten to fifteen pounds.
What do you weigh now?
About 190. So I’m hoping to get up to 200 or maybe 210.
How tall are you now, 6’4” or 6’5?”
Yeah, like 6’4 ½,” I’m hoping to get up to 210.
Okay, before his injury, you teamed up with Brandon Knight. Can you talk about that experience and give a short scouting report on him?
It was great, man. I think when me and Brandon were on the same team I thought we were the best team in the country. You know he was hurt.
That’s a heck of a backcourt to go to work against.
Yeah, it was. You know he was hurt for most of the AAU season. So the load was really heavy on me and we ended up losing the championship, but, when it was me and him, we really, really could beat everybody.
Now, would you play mostly off guard with him or vice versa?
Oh, when I would get the rebound, he would go. When he would get the rebound, I would go.
Okay.
Yeah, we would just switch back an forth and both be combo guards. When he was a shooting guard, I was the point. When he was the point, I was the shooting guard.
You’re both guards. Let the other team worry about matching up.
Exactly, so you know, we were very tough to guard.
Can you give a little scouting report on him?
Brandon is probably the quietest dude you will ever meet. That’s Brandon. He will not tell you where he will go.
BDN: (laughing)
AR: I’ve asked him. My dad’s asked him. He will not tell you where he is going. I think he likes Florida, but then I hear he likes Kentucky. So, you know, one day you this and the next day you hear that.
Are you excited about playing him next February on ESPN?
Yeah, that’s going to be fun. I can’t wait.
Have you played a lot on television? Oh, yeah, the AAU Nationals, etc.
Yeah, I’ve played on ESPN maybe four times and then, well, down in Florida all of my games are on TV.
Really?
Yeah, it’s Bright House.
Does the Sun Network pick it up or another regional carrier?
Yeah, it’s like a regional network, but the game should be fun.
Getting back to an earlier point, what position do you view yourself as?
I would say a scoring point guard.
A scoring point guard? I watched you a lot at the LeBron James..
Yeah, you know, at the LeBron James, we had little Andre with us so I could only play the off guard.
Yeah, he was, what, maybe 5’7?”
Yeah, exactly, so I kind of had to give up the ball. For my high school this year, I’m going to try to get a lot more point guard in. Going into college, I’m going to be a scoring point guard, but I’m also going to try to average six, like, six assists a game.
Do you feel more comfortable playing off the ball or with it?
I like with the ball. I’m not a dude that tries to come off of screens or anything like that.
Because at the Nike event they had you playing almost exclusively off the ball so I didn’t know if you had changed your game or were looking to get more time in at shooting guard or even transition..
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the problem was that there were so many star players that I can just get in wherever I fit in. It worked out for me though I feel.
Yeah, it absolutely did.
Thanks, but, yeah, I prefer being on the ball.
Are there any players that you try to model your game after?
Well, the player that I’d really like to play like is Brandon Roy.
Brandon Roy? Now are you expected to grow a lot taller?
Yeah, I should be about 6’5” or 6’6.” I think 6’6” so I’ll be a big guard. You know kind of like Brandon Roy.
That’s an interesting one. I don’t think anyone has ever given me that one.
Yeah, it’s because people, well, everybody wants to say “Kobe” or maybe “LeBron,” but, you know, I like Brandon Roy and Dwayne Wade. Those are my two favorite players. Dwayne Wade gets to the rack a little bit more, while I think Brandon Roy has a nice mid-range game.
He’s an excellent shooter and smooth.
Yeah, great shooter and smooth. People underestimate him
Alright, the word that I associate with you at all of the different events where I observed was “professionalism.” I’m thinking particularly at the LeBron James camp. When some kids were joking around or not really paying attention, you approached the drills and games with a professional, really business like manner or approach. Is that a mindset that you learned over time or is it more of a natural characteristic for you?
Yeah, exactly, I’m not joking around.
Kids are always going to joke around, but I mean, at the end of the day, this is a business. I thought you really took that approach in the drills and throughout.
Exactly, I’m trying to show everyone that I’m the best one out here. It’s a business. I don’t play games. I play to have fun, but, at the same time, I play to show everybody that I am the best guard out here. I want people to say Austin Rivers. I mean I want people to say that’s Austin Rivers’ dad instead of Doc Rivers’ son.
Yeah, I was wondering if you felt that way.
Yeah, exactly. That’s my view on that.
What was it like for you at the LeBron working with Kevin Eastman, who’s one of your dad’s assistants?
Oh, he was great. People think I work with him a lot, but I really don’t. So, when I get a chance to, it was awesome.
Is there any chance that you reclassify to the 2010 class?
No, no.
I was trying to do the math, but I didn’t have your birth date. Were you were born when your dad was on the Knicks or the Spurs?
Oh, um, I think the Spurs.
Just out of curiosity, does it ever frustrate you or your mother that people always want to know or ask you about your father, when she is essentially helping to raise you in the eight plus months a year that he’s in Boston?
No, I mean she’s the most hardest working mom I’ve ever met.
I read that in a recent interview.
She had four kids. Four kids that all play ball. She does everything for us and takes us everywhere. Not to mention we adopted a kid. Not to mention that my best friend lives with me. We have like eight kids in our house and she takes care of everybody. She definitely deserves more credit.
You made it to the state semifinals against Olympia Fields this past season. What did you learn from the experience and how good do you expect your team to be this upcoming season?
Not to take anything for granted, man. You never know how many opportunities that you are going to have. I have two more opportunities and time flies. I think my team is too good and I’m too good not to win a state championship. (Points around gym) Everybody here is talking about winning a state championship and next year I want to come back here and talk about winning the states.
What is it like growing up in Winter Park?
It’s nice
It’s a very unique place, by Floridian standards.
Yeah, exactly, it’s very low-key and a really nice place.
Did your parents ever contemplate seriously about moving the family to the Boston area?
No, not at all.
Do you do well in school?
Yeah, I do well. I’ve got a 3.2.
Who’s the toughest player you’ve ever had to guard?
Hmm, probably Brandon Knight
Do you ever have feel the need to put your guard up with people or that people make assumptions about you, as a result of being Doc Rivers’ son?
Yeah, definitely.
Alright, well, thanks, Austin. I hope you find what you’re looking for.
No problem, thanks a lot, man. [/private]
Duke already has two Plumlees on the roster but if they have it their way, a third might be on the way. Duke officially offered Marshall Plumlee [6-11, 200 Christ School, Arden, N.C.] a scholarship to play his basketball at Duke University last evening.
"We're very happy for Marshall," said his Dad, Perky Plumlee who went on to say, "It's certainly something he'll give consideration to and as it was with my other boys, it's an honor to be recruited by Duke."
Coach Krzyzewski made the call with the offer on Monday evening, shortly after having seen Marshall during the Elite Camp held this past weekend. Plumlee has a bevy of offers from other schools including Indiana, LSU, Notre Dame, N.C. State and many others.
We will discuss more on this breaking news on the BDN Premium message boards. Duke has now offered to prospect in a span of 24 hours, the first being 2012's J.P. Tokoto. We will have an interview up later. Join BDN Premium now for information ahead of the curve.
This past weekend Duke held their instructional camp and one of the kids that caught their eye was class of 2012 prospect J.P. Tokoto (6-5, 180, Menomonee Falls, WI). The budding star was accompanied by his parents, trainer and high school basketball coach. BDN Premium caught up with Tokoto and got his thoughts on Duke and Coach K -
Can you describe your game in your own words for fans who have yet to see you play?
Offensively I'm more of a slasher than a jump shooter. I can get by people to shoot or step out for the shot something I've been working on. Defensively, I can get up on ball and defend, deflect the ball for fast breaks and rebound one of the better things I do.
The nations elite basketball programs are all showing interest in you, what is that like for you?
It's an honor to be recruited by them. When I hear my name mentioned with [private] Duke or a Kansas I'm happy. I love the process, it's fun to me.
You haven't played the game of basketball that long. When did you start?
I started playing basketball when I was in the fifth grade and fell in love with it. I continue to practice and get better. I know that this can all go away so you have to keep on working. [talking of hype]
You went to Duke this past weekend, what was that trip like?
The Duke visit was really nice. We didn't really get to tour the campus or anything because we didn't have time. After day one of the camp we took a tour of Cameron and the facilities, saw the coaches room, locker rooms and everything.
What impressed you most about Coach K?
His seriousness and how focused he was. Even though he jokes and everything, he's got a serious side to him and means business.
What was the highlight of the visit?
What impressed me most was the coaching staff, was you know, their hospitality and everything. They really showed they cared watching my games ... Coach K pulled me to the side and critiqued me on stuff which I thought was pretty nice in that he took some time with me. He told me what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong. He talked with us about the Olympic experience and everything.
Could you see yourself playing at a school like Duke?
Oh yeah. I can envision myself playing for them and can imagine myself fitting in.
What schools are coming at you the hardest?
Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana, North Carolina, Duke and Tennessee
What three words best describe you as a basketball player?
Hard working, athletic and explosive
And three words off the court?
Energetic, fun and devoted
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More Tokoto - We have only scratched the surface on Tokoto in that his parents were forthcoming about the trip. It is obvious that there is a healthy respect for Duke. His parents are big on education and he is making good grades. They are hands on in raising JP with old fashioned values. The following comments are from his (step) father -
JP is big on family - "He'll sometimes get the riding lawn mower and get the children on it. They call it the "night ride," where he piles them in a trailer and rides them through the sub division and that's a big deal for them," said Pops.
Family in awe of visits - "After North Carolina and Duke we just kind of looked at each other and smiled. He would smile a smile and mom and dad? We were right there sharing it with him. But after the smiles, we kick it back down a notch. JP was in awe and we try to remind him saying here is your chance. You've been exposed to great universities. Hands down top notch universities. Son, if you think it stops here then you are fooled. We remind him to embrace having this opportunity and that it should be treated with honor."
Family loves the state - North Carolina was a blast, I mean the whole state! My wife has a sister that lives there so we feel like we belong because we are home and get to visit family, it was just fun.
On his visit to UNC - It was a blast. We have much respect, much respect for that program. It's one of the staples of basketball. They treated us very kindly, we got to tour the campus and see what that was about. Coach Williams spent about an hour with us sharing different stories and pictures. I would be remiss if I didn't say it was a unique and fun experience. It was a fun trip, we were tested great by Coach Williams and his staff. We have nothing but good things to say about UNC. And then the very next day we go to the mecca, we go to Duke.
On Duke - We are right there sitting through the camp watching the drills and games and we saw Coach K start off talking to the boys and parents. Just seeing Coach K, he's a ... a [brief loss for words] he's such a calm man, but when you see him on TV he's not so calm and you don't catch too many smiles. Hearing him talk in person and he says such wise things to the boys. I walked away understanding why the United States chose him to coach the basketball team. Despite all of the wins he speaks so eloquently about ... he spoke about standards. He didn't talk about rules, he talked about standards and if they are high enough then the rules are automatically taken care of. That is so true. Hearing him share that wisdom was awesome.
On K's comments - He told the boys, "Don't go to bed thinking how tired you are, think about how great you are going to be tomorrow and envision it. I'm listening and the man had me pumped up. I was ready, I wanted to run out the tunnel. J.P. told us that night, I am going out and I am going to play hard tomorrow and he did. It was a first class event, and I was still talking about it with his high school coach tonight. Even the strength coach walks around with a purpose. I mean that man waled around like I am the strength coach. I looked around and all of his coaches knew their roles and they were at attention.
On education - Education has to play a lead role in his decision. "When you go to Duke you feel that academic prestige and besides that they are a mecca in the basketball world."
On opportunities to be coached - "Coach K was able to get him on the side maybe three times going over his game. So J.P. got his fair share of tips. "
Closing comment - "JP would be ecstatic to talk to Coach K and hopefully, sooner rather than later, that opportunity will present itself and I think that might happen soon now that the camp is over.
Quick facts
- JP's biological Father is former Georgia Tech star, Brian Oliver.
- Wisconsin was the first school to offer him during his freshman year of high school. Marquette soon followed.
- Tokoto almost averaged a double-double as a freshman in high school. His Dad fancies him a team player.
- Kansas and Indiana are the most recent schools to offer. [/private]
BDN's Andrew Slater was on the scene during the Boost Mobile Elite 24 this weekend, where he caught up with Blue Devil target Kyrie Irving for another in detailed depth interview. Join BDN Premium for full site access and be in the know.
After a morning of community service in the Bronx, the twenty-four players in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 were bussed to The Sports Club/LA on the east side of Manhattan, where they began what was referred to as a training and combine session.
The staff initially had the players separate into 24 various stations designed to work different aspects of strength and conditioning. The stations included boxing, pulling a tire with a rope, lateral platform jumping exercises, etc. After the players went through the various stations, they divided the kids into four groups and measured them, in terms of their standing and running vertical leap, the number of repetitions they could lift in a row with two dumbbells of moderate weight, and how fast they could run the entire court, both with and without dribbling a basketball.
The players then were taken to another gym in the same facility to have a Question and Answer session with a panel of Peter Vecsey , Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Kevin Love, Brandon Jennings, and Tyreke Evans. The Q and A was moderated by Chris Broussard.
Vecsey tried to lecture the kids on the history of the tournament and the players that had graced the court before them. Love talked about his experience at the inaugural game, the transition to both the college and pro game, and pointed out the number of players that have reached the NBA as well as the others that will follow from the initial game. Jennings talked about his year abroad in Italy, while making notice of his relative success, the difficulty of coming off of the bench, and the women. Evans attempted to communicate his thoughts on his transition from shooting guard to point guard at the University of Memphis. Rampage said he liked the WWF, while growing up in Memphis, and therefore tried to do wrestling in high school. He mentioned that he loved to fight as a kid, but cautioned the kids that you can’t always walk around looking for a fight as an adult.
Following this session, the kids broke into their two predetermined teams and began a competitive scrimmage, as a means of practicing for the following evening at Rucker Park in Harlem. Roscoe Smith, a Duke recruit from Baltimore, swished a three-pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining to give his team the win, 99-98. Subsequently, the twenty-four prospects broke into separate areas of the court for individual interview sessions.
Kyrie Irving, the smooth and pensive New Jersey guard, spoke with Blue Devil Nation about a variety of issues, including his goals for the upcoming year, the decision process that went into his recent trimming of teams to a far more manageable six, his relationship with Harrison Barnes, what he will be looking for on his official visits, and the utility of Twitter, amongst others.
I’m going to assume that you already have decided upon your five schools… [private]
My six schools.
Six schools and you should save them for your ever growing Twitter audience, but can you talk about the decision process?
Yeah, yeah. I’m going to save them for tomorrow, even though some people around here have been pressuring me to get it.
No pressure here ..
I'm not talking about you, but others.
Can you talk about your decision process?
Yeah, sure. It took a while. Me and my father sat down, along with my uncle..
That was going to be another question.
Yeah, you know we sat down and we evaluated each school. We were going through, well, who had the best to offer. That’s what came down to my six schools that I’m going to announce tomorrow.
Sure, what were the factors that most contributed to your final six?
Family atmosphere, the academics, the academic stature
So, academics were actually important to you?
Oh, yeah, of course.
Because there are always a lot of people, fans included, that are skeptical when they read that kids are actually interested in academics. Personally, I always try to keep an open mind and treat everyone as an individual case. I assumed you were, but I didn’t know for sure.
No, no, no. Me, as a person, I have…
I knew you did well in school.
Exactly, I have a 3.5 GPA, but people don’t really know that because…
No, I knew that number because you mentioned in an earlier interview.
Yeah, I don’t really talk about it that much.
I guess they’re not that concerned with your off-the-court life.
(Player dunks over small publicist to our immediate right)
So… family atmosphere, academics
Yeah, family atmosphere, academics, and just how comfortable I am with the coaching staff and just everybody coach wise because when I see the school, it’s going to be where I’m not signing with them for four years, I’m signing with them for a long time.
A long lifetime, God willing. Who did you ultimately seek input from? Well, I guess you answered that one.
Yeah, my father and my uncle. They’ve been there throughout.
Was it a family/group decision or much more of a personal one?
It was more of a personal one I would say.
By the way, was your sister involved in the decision at all too?
No, no way. It was more of a personal decision because I talk to most of the schools. They call me all of the time. Yeah, it was more of a personal one.
Other than “a home away from home,” as you’ve mentioned in the past, what will you be looking for on your official visits?
I’m just going to be evaluating everything. Just when I step on the campus..
Anything specific or more of a feel?
It’ll be more of a feel. Just how comfortable I am, how the players interact with the coaches and how the players interact with themselves. Just everything about them. I’m going to evaluate.
Sure.
But I’d say mainly with the coaching staff and the players. That’s it.
Well, they’re going to be the ones that you’re going to be spending most of your time with. Having been a kid that was under-recruited at Montclair Kimberley, how has the reality of the process or experience been, compared to what you expected a top-ranked player to have? Now that you’ve seen the other side, is it kind of what you expected or is it more?
Um, well..
Let’s say last summer versus now, when the “gurus” have discovered you and you’ve shot up the charts. I’ve got to say I’m really proud of you.
Thanks, man. I have to say it’s been great. Especially this time last summer, I was really barely even known. Having the opportunity, you know, to be a top ten or whatever they say I am now, I feel like I don’t want to let them take that away. I feel like I have to kind of step back and just..
Was it what you thought it would be like?
(laughing) It’s even a little bit more.
Better?
Yeah, it makes me really happy and I’m proud to be a top ten player because I worked hard all summer.
Yeah, you did. Is your family enjoying your success?
Yeah, no, they definitely are. My family has been there since I was just a little kid playing in my backyard. It’s just been great. I’ve just enjoyed this whole entire summer.
That’s great that you are all enjoying it. To clarify and potentially squash some concerns, there was a video interview that you did in Portland with Selby and he was strongly hinting that Indiana was going to be your choice. Did he know something or was he just purely speculating?
(laughing) No, no, he was just joking around.
Yeah, I wanted you to touch on that because a video like that can cause people to panic. (laughing)
No, that was nothing.
Of all things that you accomplished this year, what are you most proud of?
I’m proud of everything. I can’t name a specific thing because there have been so many moments, particularly this summer. It started off when, well, it actually started when I went to…well, it was a learning experience for me when I was at the NBA Camp. That was the first time I came to a camp and there were so many top players there. It wasn’t like there was one player that wasn’t any good. That was definitely an eye-opener. It made me even hungrier.
As you often write, “humble and hungry”
Yeah, exactly, the two “H”s that I live by. It just made me humble and hungry to just go out there and destroy the whole AAU circuit.
What’s your relationship like with Harrison Barnes? Can you provide a scouting report? I saw you two sitting together.
(laughing) Oh, yeah, well, I mean he calls me his “little brother,” but I..
Oh, yeah?
Yeah, I don’t know, but I’m close with him. We developed a relationship over the summer. It started at NBA Camp. We don’t really discuss Duke to a large extent, but we do discuss it and we have a very good relationship.
So there’s definitely a connection between you two..
Oh, yeah, definitely.
What are your goals and hopes for the next twelve months? McDonald’s All-American? Repeat as state champions?
Those are personal goals, but, as a team, the national championship and the state championship. Before every season, well, you know, even before every summer, I always set goals. On a personal level, I want to make the Jordan Classic and do all of those all-star games. On a team level, I need to continue to develop my leadership and do the intangibles that my team needs, which will hopefully prepare me for college.
You apparently played very well in both Orlando and Portland for the USA team at the end of the summer. Do you feel that the workouts that you put in and endlessly write about are starting to pay the major dividends that you‘ve hoped for? When other guys are breaking down or getting worn out…
Yeah, well, my father had to like beg me to take a break. For some reason, it’s just a mental thing with me, but I just can’t take breaks. I just can’t. I still have that feeling that if and when I take a break, that’s when other people will start to work harder than me. So, I barely take breaks and it really takes a toll. My body is hurting right now.
In your writing, there’s always a series of cycles, where you initially do lengthy, intense workouts, then play in tournaments where you carry a heavy burden and play a lot of competitive games in a short period of time, and finally there are periods where you crash and “chill.” Is it a matter of trial and error with knowing when to push your body or is it more a matter of planning and scheduling?
No, I don’t schedule it. It got to a point, earlier in the summer, where I wouldn’t even know what or where games or tournaments were. I would just go. It really takes a toll on my body, but, after a while, you kind of get used to it. You know, towards the end of the summer, you start taking a lot of breaks and you get ready for the high school season.
Ideally, what would you like to do with your body to further enhance your overall game? Strength? Cardio?
My strength. My cardio is fine.
You can run all day.
Yeah, I can, but, when it gets to, like, that third or fourth game, then you have to deal with the players that are bigger and stronger than you…
Especially when you have to bear a heavy burden with Roadrunners.
Yeah, it is, but I really don’t want to talk about them or that right now (laughing)
Well, I mean people, who have watched you on that team, can judge for themselves.
Yeah, I don’t want to go there right now.
Being an articulate, consensus top ten recruit, can you shed some light as to what the mindset is like for an elite-level recruit, as you enter your senior year? What are some different things that are on your mind, when you have quiet moments? If you can allow the audience to live vicariously through you.. (Doron Lamb, a Queens guard that currently plays for Oak Hill, comes next to us and is looking for attention)
Well, I don’t really plan anything, you know, when I’m by myself, I’m kind of a laid-back kid. I like to joke around too, but, um, stop. No stop, man. (Lamb has his arm around Kyrie’s neck)
Hi, I’m Doron Lamb. (sticks out his hand for a shake)
Yeah, I know who you are. How’re you doing, Doron?
KI: I just trying to be a normal kid because you know coming to all of these events they, well, try to treat you like you’re a pro already. (Lamb slaps both of us on the rear end and moves along)
Can you talk about your mentality as you prepare to play at the Rucker and the GOAT? Are you definitely going to be at the GOAT on Saturday night?
Yep, I’m going to play in that. My mentality tomorrow night is going to be…
Are you looking to pick your spots? Showcase? Go in with an open mind and have fun?
Well, you can tell that people are going to be putting up shots and that there are no positions out here. People are going to be looking for theirs. I’m not going to stress out over it or anything.
No, no, don’t.
People are trying to, well, it’s a whole political thing.
Are people really stressing a little bit?
Yeah, behind the scenes, they are a little bit, but they shouldn’t.
Whether on the Roadrunners or the Celtics, do you ever look to try to help your teammates out, in terms of generating scholarships or offering advice?
On the Celtics?
Whichever.
Yeah, when I play with the NJ Celtics, I think it benefited some of the players on the team because, you know, I don’t want to sound arrogant, but a lot of college coaches came to see me play so..
That’s my point. There’s an opportunity to be generous and some guys, who already have all the scholarships they need, won’t.
Yeah, especially on the Roadrunners too.
Absolutely, but also on the Celtics, for example, I know towards the end of the high school season that Kevin Boyle’s son didn’t have any Division One scholarship offers.
No , he didn’t.
God knows if he does now, but..
Yeah, exactly, but then when we play Team Final,
Right, right, he goes for almost thirty.
Yeah, in front of everybody there that day
Can you talk about Twitter and its usefulness in trying to get your messages out there?
It’s just a way to update people on what’s going on in my life and in my mind.
It’s acting as a virtual megaphone to get your words to a mass audience that‘s interested in what you have to say.
Yeah, that’s exactly what it is.
This may be the last time I speak with you and I always try to be objective, but you’ve become my guy and I just wanted to thank you for your help with the interviews and wish you the best of luck in the future.
Oh, no, no, thanks. Thanks a lot, man. [/private]
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