Golden Eagles add guard, transfer Belton Rivers from East Carolina
Tennessee Tech University men's basketball head coach Mike Sutton has announced the transfer of Belton Rivers to the Golden Eagles, a guard from East Carolina University. Rivers, a 6-4 190-pound junior, played at ECU the past two seasons.
Tennessee Tech University men's basketball head coach Mike Sutton has announced the transfer of Belton Rivers to the Golden Eagles, a guard from East Carolina University. Rivers, a 6-4 190-pound junior, played at ECU the past two seasons.
"Even though he will sit out as a transfer, Belton will help us already this season," said Sutton. "He brings great energy, and will make our other players better by competing against them in practice."
Last season, Rivers started in 15 games for the Pirates, averaging 8.2 ppg. He led the team in 3-point shooting, going 45-for-127 (.354) from behind the line. He had a career-high 26 points in a 72-69 loss to eventual Sweet 16 participant UAB in Birmingham. He was also second on the team in free throw shooting, going 24-for-33 (.727) from the charity stripe.
"Belton is a quality young man, and we are delighted to have him as a part of our program here at Tennessee Tech," said Sutton. "He can play either guard spot for us, and is very versatile."
The aggressive shooting guard started 25 games as a freshman, averaging 8.0 ppg, good for fourth on the team. Rivers led the Pirates in 3-point field goals made (40) and attempts (131). He led ECU in scoring three times and was the leading assist man in five ball games. He scored a career-high 21 points against Mount Olive, including 14 in the second half.
Rivers attended Frederick Douglas High School in Atlanta, where he averaged 32 points, five rebounds and five assists per game as a senior. He was a three-year letterman and three-time all-conference selection. He earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior.
"Belton will be an outstanding player for us in 2005," said Sutton. "He was a great shooter at ECU, and we look for him to add a spark to our line-up next season."
Rivers will be instructed under the tutelage of new assistant coach Saul Smith, who played his college basketball at the University of Kentucky.|
