Hornets Sign Davis and Rivers

Hornets News Release

HORNETS SIGN DAVIS AND RIVERS

July 24, 2012

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed first round picks Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers to multi-year contracts. Davis was the first overall pick while Rivers was the 10th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

In his only collegiate season, Davis (6-10, 220) won six of the seven major National Player of the Year awards, getting the nod from the AP, USBWA and Basketball Times, and capturing the Wooden, Adolph Rupp and Naismith awards. Additionally, the Chicago, Il. Native was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player after leading Kentucky to national title in New Orleans. The 19-year-old led the nation in blocks (4.65 bpg) as a freshman, while leading his team in scoring (14.2 ppg), rebounding (10.4 rpg) and field goal percentage (.623). Davis broke school and SEC records as well as the NCAA freshman record for blocks in a season (186). He finished the season with 20 double-doubles, tops in the SEC and tied for the UK freshman record en route to being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-SEC, SEC All-Freshman Team and SEC All-Defensive Team.

In his only collegiate season, Rivers (6-4, 200) was an NABC Third Team All-American selection and led the Blue Devils in scoring with 15.5 points per game, just the third freshman in school history to do so. The Winter Park, Fl. native finished ranked in the top five in seven different freshman categories in school history: points (3rd), points per game (3rd), free throws (1st), attempts (1st), three-pointers (5th), double-figure games (3rd), and 20-point games (5th). The 19-year-old posted a career-high 29 points and hit a game-winning three-pointer to beat then-no. 5 North Carolina on February 8, 2012.