College Basketball: Duke's Rivers opts to enter NBA draft

Austin Rivers is leaving Duke after one season for the NBA.

The freshman guard announced on Monday his decision to enter the draft and his plans to hire an agent after team officials said he spent the weekend discussing his future plans with his family at their home outside Orlando, Fla.

"Duke has prepared me for the challenges that are ahead both on and off the court," Rivers said in a statement issued by the school. "I have learned so much from the coaching staff and my teammates that will help me succeed at the next level."

The son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers averaged a team-leading 15.5 points and was a unanimous selection as the Atlantic Coast Conference's rookie of the year.

"Austin had a terrific year as a freshman and has put himself in a position to pursue his dream of being a great player in the NBA," Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski said, adding that he supports the decision. "We look forward to watching him continue to develop and excel at the next level."

All-Americans named. Kansas forward Thomas Robinson capped his junior season by being a unanimous selection to the Associated Press' all-America team. The junior is the first unanimous pick since Blake Griffin in 2009.

The voting was done before the NCAA tournament.

Joining Robinson on the first team are Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, Anthony Davis of Kentucky, Draymond Green of Michigan State and Doug McDermott of Creighton.

All five were also honored as Wooden Award all-Americans for maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 grade point average and making progress toward graduation,

Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, from Somerdale, Camden County, was named to the AP third team.

Vegas favors Cats, Buckeyes. Las Vegas casinos are sticking with Kentucky and Ohio State as Final Four favorites and still think the Wildcats have the best shot of winning the NCAA tournament.

Odds put out by Nevada casinos after the matchups were set show they think Kentucky - the No. 1 seed overall - has a 52 percent shot at the title, gambling expert RJ Bell of Pregame.com told the AP.

Cantor Gaming, which operates six sports books in Vegas and shares its lines with the vast majority of Nevada's 186 sports books, made Kentucky a 9.5-point favorite over Louisville and Ohio State a three-point favorite over Kansas for Saturday's semifinals.

NIT Final Four. The only No. 1 seed left in the National Invitation Tournament, Washington faces Minnesota Tuesday night in the second game of a semifinal doubleheader at Madison Square Garden. Stanford plays Massachusetts in the opener.

Coaching moves. Wagner College promoted 28-year-old assistant Bashir Mason to succeed Dan Hurley as head coach of the Seahawks. Mason will be the youngest head coach in Division I.

Murray State and Steve Prohm agreed to a one-year contract extension and a pay raise after the Racers went 31-2, the most successful season in the Kentucky school's history.

Alabama-Birmingham has hired North Carolina assistant Jerod Haase as head coach to replace Mike Davis, who was fired after making the NCAA tourney once in six seasons.