Austin Rivers is high school basketball's most prominent example of a young athlete managing the expectations that come with having a famous father, particularly one that made his name on the hardwood.
The
Winter Park (Fla.) senior, regarded as the No. 2 prospect in the 2011 class by MaxPreps.com, started making noise nationally as a sophomore after exploding for 46 points against Wheeler at the prestigious City of Palms Classic. He went on to average 23.6 points per game that year and is pouring in nearly 30 per outing this winter.
Winter Park's Austin Rivers scored 42 points in front of his dad at the City of Palms Classic in December.
Photo by Stuart Browning
Rivers has always embraced talk of his father, Boston Celtics head coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers, also a 13-year NBA player with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
"It always means a lot when he can take time out of his schedule to come and support me," Rivers said following another 40-point performance at the City of Palms Classic in December as Doc watched from the packed stands at Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Rivers family has had some practice managing the father/coach-son/player relationship. Austin's brother, Jeremiah, is a redshirt senior guard at Indiana University. Younger brother Spencer is a freshman teammate at Winter Park.
The future Duke Blue Devil isn't the only high school star with a familiar surname. MaxPreps looks at notable names shining on the hardwood this winter with famous basketball fathers, as well as a few from baseball, football and the entertainment industry.
Big talent, famous fathersPlayer, School – FatherMike D'Antoni Jr., Rye (N.Y.) – Mike D'Antoni, New York Knicks head coach
Antonio Davis Jr., Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, Ga.) – Antonio Davis, 13-year NBA career
Elijah Brown, St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) – Mike Brown, former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach
D.J. Fenner, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) – Derrick Fenner, 9-year NFL career as running back with Seahawks
Thomas Hamilton, Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) – Thomas Hamilton, 7-foot-2 NBA short-timer
Keith Hornsby, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) – Bruce Hornsby, singer/songwriter
Traevon Jackson, Westerville South (Westerville, Ohio) – Jimmy Jackson, 14-year NBA career
Nick Kerr, Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) – Steve Kerr, 14-year NBA career, Phoenix Suns former general manager
Tony Kimbro Jr., Jeffersontown (Louisville, Ky.) – Tony Kimbro, Former Louisville standout
Shane Larkin, Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) – Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds legend
Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) – Ron Holmes, mid-1980s USC standout
Larry Nance Jr., Revere (Richfield, Ohio) – Larry Nance, 13-year NBA career, 1984 Slam Dunk Contest winner
Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) – Sonny Parker, 6-year NBA career, Texas A&M All-American
Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.) – Glenn "Doc" Rivers, 13-year NBA career, Boston Celtics head coach
Glenn Robinson III, Lake Central (St. John, Ind.) – Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson, 11-year NBA career
Shannon Scott, Milton (Ga.) – Charlie Scott, former NBA and ABA professional
Jordan Strawberry, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) – Darryl Strawberry, 17-year MLB career
