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LEBRON JAMES SKILLS ACADEMY RECRUITING FOCUS: ADAM WOODBURY & D’VAUNTES SMITH-RIVERA

By Lauren Kirschman

Class of 2012 center Adam Woodbury is getting looks from some of the nation’s high profile school.

After performing well at the NBA Top 100 Camp, Woodbury, who is from Sioux City, IA, is receiving interest from Kansas, Duke, Ohio State and North Carolina. Iowa, Wisconsin, Stanford and Minnesota are also interested. He wants to cut his list of potential schools down to five soon.

“It’s an honor,” Woodbury said of attracting the attention of elite programs. “I never dreamed I’d be in this position.”

He doesn’t know how interest in him increased, but he credits the teams he’s played with this summer. He added that he was thankful for the invitation to the LeBron James Skills Academy, saying that he never thought he’d have the opportunity to play with James.

7’0″, 222 pound Woodbury is looking to plan official visits soon and said he’s focused on finding a team that plays up tempo. He’s also looking for a school that offers a good education and where he has a good relationship with the coach and players.

He said he’s not the most athletic player, but he likes to get out and run and he’s a hard worker. He counts his most moves and his high basketball IQ among his greatest strengths
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D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, a 6’3, 227-pound guard in the class of 2012, lists Ohio State, Xavier, Texas, Baylor, Georgetown, UCLA, Kentucky, Louisville and Michigan State among the schools that have shown interest.

“They showed the highest interest in coming to watch me play,” he said.

Louisville has long been linked to Smith-Rivera, who was once a verbal commitment to Xavier, is not the only BIG EAST school on his list. Georgetown, the other, is attractive because of its history and John Thompson III’s system which Smith-Rivera said puts him in a great position to succeed.

Smith-Rivera said he hopes to make a decision by the beginning of the high school season.

He sees himself as a point guard, but can also play some two guard because of his versatility and ability to score the ball. At the LeBron James Skills Academy, he’s been focusing on skill work, such as ball handling and making his jump shot as efficient as possible.

“At a camp like this, you see a lot to work on and get better at,” he said.

Smith-Rivera, who had knee surgery twice, said he’s 100 percent healthy now. A naturally big guard, he said that he’s been working on developing the skill work to go along with his strength. Although he lifted weights for almost a year, he stopped because he doesn’t want to get too big.

He said he could compare himself to NBA guard Deron Williams because of his ability to make play and his hard-working attitude.

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