Rivers looks poised to step into a bigger role for one of the country’s top programs next season. The rising sophomore is shifty with the ball in his hands and has above average quickness, making it very difficult for defenders to keep him out of the paint. He sees the floor well for a young prospect and is capable of finding open teammates. Rivers is a reliable open shot maker from beyond the arc, which keeps defenders honest when guarding him in screening action.

I liked the way Rivers took advantage of his opportunities off the bench to enter the game and immediately impact as a sparkplug for PVI at the point guard spot. When he wasn’t organizing the team in a half court setting, he was using his quickness to break down his defender and penetrate the paint. From there, he made quick reads as the defense collapsed and following his deliveries, quickly scattered back out to the perimeter to free himself for drive-and-kicks where he buried a few three’s or ensured as a safety net for defensive transition. He looks prepared to provide a consistent punch for the Panthers’ backcourt rotation after learning valuable lessons as a freshman on one of the more decorated teams we’ve seen in DMV history last season as a freshman.

Rivers looks to be the point guard of the future for the Panthers and gained valuable experience this season as part of the program’s WCAC Championship team. The young guard has good length for the position and shows the ability to get into the paint, where he can pressure the defense and create opportunities. Rivers plays with a solid feel for the game and has shown himself to be a reliable decision maker with the ball in his hands. As he continues to gain experience and develop physically, he has the tools and upside to become an important piece of the Panthers’ backcourt moving forward.

Rivers is another name that took the 5th quarter to showoff his playmaking chops on the ball. The shifty, slippery lead guard is quick from the point of attack and can get into the paint where he showed sound decision-making as a passer. He’s also a guy who uses his burst to get to the rim and scoop quick lay-ups before the weak side help can rotate. Learning the position under the tutelage of Farello and battling against Brown every day in practice will present Rivers with the opportunity to be another great point guard prospect to come out of PVI in the long-term.