Winter Park star joins Harrison Barnes, Brandon Jennings and Kevin Love as recipient of the nation's highest honor.
Austin Rivers saw his high school basketball career come to an end last Thursday with a loss in the quarterfinals of the National High School Invitational.
It wasn't the storybook ending Rivers was looking for, but in some ways illustrated how high he helped a school that had never won a state title before his arrival climb.
During the future Duke Blue Devil's final three years at
Winter Park (Fla.), the Wildcats won 81 games, played in three FHSAA Class 6A Final Fours and won two state titles. The Orlando-area public school was invited to ESPN's season-ending national tournament in 2010 and 2011, an event dominated by independent powerhouses like
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.),
Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) and
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.).
Rivers helped the program become a nationwide attraction, appearing in events in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts and Wisconsin during that span against teams from nine different states and the District of Columbia. Thanks to the 6-foot-4 guard's appeal and notoriety, the Wildcats played on national television six times over the past two seasons.
He was the star of stars in high school basketball's most prestigious tournament – the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers. He registered 40-point games in the event as a sophomore, junior and senior, including a 42-point gem against nationally-ranked
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) this season. In 2009, Rivers poured in 45 points against
St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), almost single-handedly giving the Gray Bees their only loss in a season where they finished ranked No. 2 in MaxPreps.com's Xcellent 25.
Rivers averaged 28.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game as a senior, leading Winter Park to its second-straight state title and helping him earn MaxPreps.com's National Player of the Year honor. He joins a star-studded list of past winners;
MaxPreps.com's National Players of the Year – 2006 through 20112011 – Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)
2010 – Harrison Barnes, Ames (Iowa)
2009 – Derrick Favors, South Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.)
2008 – Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
2007 – Kevin Love, Lake Oswego (Ore.)
2006 – Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.)
A photographic look at the career of Austin Rivers
Rivers, driving on St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) standout Derrick Gordon, was on the rise following Winter Park's appearance in the 2008 City of Palms Classic.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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Rivers' first masterpiece at the City of Palms Classic came against Walton (Marietta, Ga.) as a sophomore when he poured in 46 points during a 91-87 victory. He averaged 30 points per contest during four games at the event that year.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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Rivers averaged 23.6 points per game during an All-American junior campaign.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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Rivers hit 15 of 24 field goal attempts en route to piling up 45 points in a win against nationally-ranked St. Benedict's Prep at the 2009 City of Palms Classic.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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Rivers and Winter Park battled Georgia powerhouse Milton three times over the past two seasons, winning the first contest at the City of Palms Classic in December 2009.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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Rivers waits to hear his name called before a game with eventual Washington state champion Kentwood at the T-Mobile Invitational in Birmingham, Ala.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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The future Duke Blue Devil on the hunt against Riverside Academy (Reserve, La.) in December.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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In front of a packed house at Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Fla., and a national television audience, Rivers unloads from the corner during the third-place game at the City of Palms Classic.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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Following a loss to Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Rivers was honored by City of Palms Classic organizer Donnie Wilkie and received a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd at Bishop Verot. He finished as the event's third all-time leading scorer with 358 points in 14 games.
<center>Photo by Jim Redman</center>
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Shortly after leading Winter Park to its second-straight Class 6A state title, Rivers was honored with the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award.
<center>Photo courtesy of McDonald's All-American Game</center>
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Rivers signs autographs in the lead up to the McDonald's All-American Game in Chicago.
<center>Photo courtesy of McDonald's All-American Game</center>
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Rivers pulled on his father's old Atlanta Hawks jersey for a dunk attempt at the McDonald's All-American Game. Glenn "Doc" Rivers is the head coach of the Boston Celtics.
<center>Photo courtesy of McDonald's All-American Game</center>
