BOSTON — Incoming Duke guard Austin Rivers is looking forward to playing with forward Alex Murphy this season instead of next.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Rivers said by text. “I’m very excited to get to have another top play-maker with me. He only makes us better. Unselfish player! He’s a ‘we-first’ before ‘me-first’ type of guy. And simply just has game.”
The 6-foot-4 Rivers has played with the 6-8 Murphy at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 event.
Rivers and Murphy will be joined in the Duke 2011 class by point guard Quinn Cook, center Marshall Plumlee and wing Michael Gbjinije.
Rivers said he will miss playing with Kyrie Irving, who declared for the NBA Draft after his freshman season.
“Yeah, but I understand,” he said. “He’s going to be a very high pick so it’s all good. I wish I could’ve played with him, though.”
Duke has one scholarship available but it remains unclear how the Murphy decision will impact the recruitment of 6-8 IMG Academies wing DeAndre Daniels, who visited Duke last weekend.
“Not sure,” IMG coach Andy Borman said by text.
Rivers plans to be at Madison Square Garden Friday for Game 3 of the Knicks-Celtics series.
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