Doc Rivers’ son Austin Rivers awarded Morgan Wootten Player of Year Award
Austin Rivers, son of Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has been bestowed with 2011’s Morgan Wootten Player of Year Award.
The 18-year-old is currently the no.1 basketball player of the class of 2011. The 6’3” tall player is mercurial and has scored approximately 3,000 points in his career so far. He was recently awarded Florida’s Class 6A title for the second straight time.
The star was handed the award in front of a big audience, with father Doc Rivers making a surprise entry to celebrate his son’s moment of joy. Doc Rivers who has taken the Boston Celtics to first seed in the Eastern Conference this year was proud of his
son and said, "It is a proud moment for our family. Watching all the work he has done and to receive such a special award is a proud feeling as parents."
The prestigious Wootten Award came into existence in the memory of the legendary coach Morgan Wootten of DeMatha High Scool. The award is given to those exemplary students who are also athletes and are an example for others to follow. This award was initiated
by McDonald in honour of Wootten for his extraordinary accomplishments in the field of basketball as well as his teaching abilities.
Wootten was full of praise for the 18-year-old terming him the ideal person to receive the award. He said that Rivers had those qualities that are required in an ideal student-athlete. He added that Rivers is a capable basketball player and is one of the
best players in the country, also praising him for his charitable work.
Rivers competition was tough; he surpassed two other signees from Kentucky to get the award. Those two were Anthony Davis, who plays power forward for Perspectives Charter School and Michael Gilchrist who plays small forward for Saint Patrick. Another signee
who he beat for the title was from North Carolina, James McAdoo who plays power forward Norfolk Christian.
Other great players who have received the same award before Rivers include Harrison Barnes, Kevin Love, LeBron James, Jay Williams and Greg Oden and his father Doc Rivers.
Delighted at being awarded the title, Rivers said, "I am very blessed and grateful to win such a special award. When you win an award like this it reinforces what I am doing to this point, and I want to continue to work hard to reach my potential."
The superstar is set to make an appearance in the McDonald’s All American Game to be held on 30th March, where he is expected to set the court on fire with his basketball skills.
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