Austin Nichols Picks Memphis

[wilko]

The silence about Austin is deafening.

[Sgt. Dingleberry]

The silence about Austin is deafening.

There are a ton of rumors going around, but Austin himself (via twitter) has come out and said they are not true.

The rumor du jour is that his gf, twin sister and Hubbs are going to Tennessee and that he has informed the Vols coaching staff that he will as well.

Who knows what is actually happening, but, that is what I have heard/seen.

[BlueBloodedDevil]

The rumor du jour is that his gf, twin sister and Hubbs are going to Tennessee and that he has informed the Vols coaching staff that he will as well.

We're golden then!! Nobody in their right mind goes to the same college as their high school girlfriend! What fun is that!!!

[Sgt. Dingleberry]

We're golden then!! Nobody in their right mind goes to the same college as their high school girlfriend! What fun is that!!!

LOL...I can't lie, that was my first thought when reading the rumor.

[BD80]

There are a ton of rumors going around, but Austin himself (via twitter) has come out and said they are not true.

The rumor du jour is that his gf, twin sister and Hubbs are going to Tennessee and that he has informed the Vols coaching staff that he will as well.

Who knows what is actually happening, but, that is what I have heard/seen.

His twin sister or his gf's twin sister? This could be important ...

[Sgt. Dingleberry]

His twin sister or his gf's twin sister? This could be important ...

Austin's twin sister.

[SeattleIrish]

There are a ton of rumors going around, but Austin himself (via twitter) has come out and said they are not true.

The rumor du jour is that his gf, twin sister and Hubbs are going to Tennessee and that he has informed the Vols coaching staff that he will as well.

Who knows what is actually happening, but, that is what I have heard/seen.

I'm just hoping those are three DIFFERENT people...

I keeed, I keeed!

s.i.

[J4Kop99]

I'm just hoping those are three DIFFERENT people...

I keeed, I keeed!

s.i.

lol. Very nice, SI, very nice.

[gam7]

We're golden then!! Nobody in their right mind goes to the same college as their high school girlfriend! What fun is that!!!

Well, if you see his Twitter picture/avatar/whatever it's called, then you might change your mind (assuming that's his girlfriend).

[Dukehky]

Well, if you see his Twitter picture/avatar/whatever it's called, then you might change your mind (assuming that's his girlfriend).

Austin Rivers' girlfriend dropped out of college and moved to Durham to be Austin's girlfriend, maybe she'll do the same...

No judgement on the matter, not a dumb move though...

[tommy]

While saying that of course the decision belongs to his son, Austin Nichols's father does not think Tennessee would be a good fit for Austin, due to its style of play. This as Austin heads to UT for a visit this weekend. Dad is hoping for a decision in about three weeks.

[roywhite]

While saying that of course the decision belongs to his son, Austin Nichols's father does not think Tennessee would be a good fit for Austin, due to its style of play. This as Austin heads to UT for a visit this weekend. Dad is hoping for a decision in about three weeks.

Thanks for the link. While I'm certainly hoping Nichols chooses Duke, I'm shaking my head about his Dad's comments. He's stepped into this a bit too far IMO.

[dukedoc]

Thanks for the link. While I'm certainly hoping Nichols chooses Duke, I'm shaking my head about his Dad's comments. He's stepped into this a bit too far IMO.

I agree. Those seem like very odd comments for a parent to make. Particularly to a Tennessee blog leading into his OV there. Makes me wonder what the purpose of those statements were. I have a hard time believing they were just off the cuff.

On a related note, am I right in saying that there were essentially no reports related to Austin's recent visit to Durham? I don't recall seeing any articles about his visit. Not that it matters, but it seems odd... unless I just missed everything.

[jimsumner]

I agree. Those seem like very odd comments for a parent to make. Particularly to a Tennessee blog leading into his OV there. Makes me wonder what the purpose of those statements were. I have a hard time believing they were just off the cuff.

On a related note, am I right in saying that there were essentially no reports related to Austin's recent visit to Durham? I don't recall seeing any articles about his visit. Not that it matters, but it seems odd... unless I just missed everything.

They came, they saw, they left.

A good time was had by all.

The family is telling Duke that academics will be important. Duke leads in that and the playing-style-expectations are a plus.

But Memphis is home and his twin sister is at Tennessee and Duke can't match either of those attractions. So, what is the relative weight of these variables? Not only do we not know, its likely that Nichols doesn't know.

[mkline09]

They came, they saw, they left.

A good time was had by all.

The family is telling Duke that academics will be important. Duke leads in that and the playing-style-expectations are a plus.

But Memphis is home and his twin sister is at Tennessee and Duke can't match either of those attractions. So, what is the relative weight of these variables? Not only do we not know, its likely that Nichols doesn't know.

I can only to speak to my experience as a twin, but I'd want to go as far away from him as possible

[dukedoc]

They came, they saw, they left.

A good time was had by all.

The family is telling Duke that academics will be important. Duke leads in that and the playing-style-expectations are a plus.

But Memphis is home and his twin sister is at Tennessee and Duke can't match either of those attractions. So, what is the relative weight of these variables? Not only do we not know, its likely that Nichols doesn't know.

Interesting. Thank you, Jim!

[jimsumner]

I can only to speak to my experience as a twin, but I'd want to go as far away from him as possible

My son had a pair of twins as friends when he was growing up. One went to UNC-Wilmington. The other went to App State.

Read into that what you will.

[BD80]

My son had a pair of twins as friends when he was growing up. One went to UNC-Wilmington. The other went to App State.

Read into that what you will.

fraternal twins

[MCFinARL]

I can only to speak to my experience as a twin, but I'd want to go as far away from him as possible

It's hard to predict how the twin thing will influence the decision, as you note. Some twins are apparently super close. Being opposite-sex twins could make that less likely--but it also might make it more likely, since it might be easier for the two to find their own space.

Friends of mine have twin daughters who are so-called "mirror" twins, and their personalities seem almost designed to irritate each other. It was a great relief for both, apparently, as well as for the parents, when they left for separate colleges.

I did see one tweet from Austin shortly after his visit in which he said something positive along the lines of "had a blast." That echoes Jim's understanding that it was a good visit. But of course, as Jim's post also makes clear, there is a big difference between a good visit and a commitment. What top basketball recruit wouldn't have fun spending a weekend at Duke?

[jimsumner]

fraternal twins

Yep. Brothers.

FWIW, this has the sound of a head v. heart decision. Duke is the best business option, the best way for him to step out of his comfort zone, experience new things, challenge himself in a demanding but historically elite program/school that excels on the court and in the classroom.

But other options trump Duke in terms of familiarity, access to friends and family and other variables.

This is a common dilemma, one that many of us have faced, one that many of our children have faced, one that isn't limited to athletes. It just depends on how he ranks the importance of these variables.