USA – ‘Storybook’ finish for Austin Rivers

CHAPEL HILL (NCAA) - The reason why international basketball youth tournaments are so special is that fans have a chance to take a good, long look at players that will one day soon be the game's biggest stars.

Austin Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, was a prime example of that at the 2010 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in San Antonio when he averaged 20.2 points per game and led the Americans to the gold medal.

He wrote a chapter in the great American college basketball rivalry of North Carolina v Duke on Wednesday night with a long, game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer for the Blue Devils, who are led by USA Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Rivers hit his sixth and most important three-ball of the contest at the death to lift the Blue Devils to an 85-84 win in Chapel Hill.

"When it went in, my heart jumped,” said Rivers, who finished with a game-high 29 points.

“It was the best feeling I've ever had in my life."

Krzyzewski hailed his freshman.

"That's what he's been put on this earth to do," Krzyzewski said.

"To hit a game-winner like that is just storybook."

Rivers dad, the Celtics coach, was in the stands and among the several Duke fans lucky enough to get a ticket.

"It's tougher as a parent," Rivers said to cnnsi.com.

"As a coach, at least you're involved. As a parent, you're just sitting there, and you're scared the whole game."

FIBA