Rivers invited to Virginia Pre-Draft camp

Jeremiah Rivers’ chances of playing professionally next year just got even
better.

The IU senior guard was invited Monday to the Portsmouth Invitational Pre-Draft camp in Virginia, a tournament for the nation’s top seniors from Wednesday through
Saturday.

Rivers is one of 64 players in the event. He will compete on one of eight teams in front of approximately 200 scouts from the NBA, NBA D-League and teams from overseas.

In addition to Rivers, the Portsmouth Invitational — one of the United States’ oldest amateur basketball tournaments — will also feature a multitude of other Big Ten upperclassmen.  

That list includes Ohio State’s Jon Diebler, Michigan State’s Durrell Summers, Penn State’s Talor Battle, Minnesota’s Blake Hoffarber and Illinois’ Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale.  

Rivers, arguably IU’s top defender, averaged 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds for the Hoosiers last season. He played his final two seasons in Bloomington after transferring from Georgetown in 2008.

Since IU’s season ended in a loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament, Rivers has been training for the professional ranks in Boston each weekend.

His father, Doc Rivers, is the head coach of the Boston Celtics.

After Rivers’ Senior Night speech March 3, IU coach Tom Crean said the lone senior’s work ethic is what will separate him at the next level.

“I don’t know if there has been a day that he hasn’t come in during the season,” Crean said. “I can’t remember a day where I did not see him in this building. That’s put him in the class of great workers that I have been with.”    

Rivers, who said he has other aspirations in fashion and music, made it clear before Senior Night what his plans were after graduation.

“I’m just going to continue playing basketball,” Rivers told the Indiana Daily Student. “That’s what I do. If you love what you do, you’re not going to give up on it.”