Power Guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera Commits to Georgetown

Georgetown has taken their second verbal commitment in the 2012 class, and it’s from a player that seems ideally suited to their style, 6′-3″ combo guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera. The former Xavier commit is a native of Indiana, that’s finishing high school at Oak Hill Academy (VA). Smith-Rivera announced his intentions at a press conference today, following official trips to the Hoyas, and NC State. Smith-Rivera also reportedly considered Louisville and Memphis, but was in attendance at Georgetown’s midnight madness festivities, making his eventual choice today somewhat obvious.

Often referred to as “DSR” for obvious reasons, Smith-Rivera can play either guard position, and is a strong player with a power game when matched against smaller or similarly sized guards. A s a junior at North Central (IN), he averaged 22 points and 4 rebounds. He had a future D-1 player (Ronnie Johnson – Purdue) in the backcourt, and thus was not needed to be the primary ballhandler on the team, though his handle is good. He’s a skilled player that attacks in the half-court set, and has earned a Top 40 ranking among national prospects, by most sources.

The second pledge in the Hoyas class, Smith-Rivera joins post prospect Brandon Bolden as verbal commitments to date to Georgetown. Smith-Rivera was committed to Xavier for several months in 2010, prior to re-opening his recruitment. He tripped officially to NC State with Wolfpack pledge and Oak Hill Academy teammate Tyler Lewis, but cancelled an expected visit to Memphis, prior to making his pledge. NC State already had two guards committed in Lewis and Rodney Purvis, and thus wasn’t seen as an ideal fit for Smith-Rivera, at least for early playing time.

At Georgetown, Smith-Rivera figures to see playing plenty of time as a freshman, somewhat by necessity. Senior guard Jason Clark will depart after this season, with Markel Starks the only obvious point guard returning to the roster. Incoming freshman Jabril Trawick is the only other guard that is a lock to be back at Georgetown with Smith-Rivera hits campus. Expect Smith-Rivera to push to start at some point (no pun intended) during his initial season in the nation’s capital.