Tigers' Rivers staying

CLEMSON — Projected as the 90th-best player available by ESPN.com, Clemson's K.C. Rivers would be a long shot to end up taken among the NBA Draft's 60 selections.

That's probably the chief reason Rivers has elected to return to Clemson for his senior year and begin working on becoming a sure thing in next year's draft. Tigers coach Oliver Purnell announced Tuesday that Rivers, the top scorer on last season's team, will be back in 2008-09.

"We are very excited that K.C. Rivers will be returning for his senior season," Purnell said in a statement released by Clemson. "He is a returning All-ACC player who will undoubtedly be one of our leaders next season. … He considered making himself available for the NBA Draft, but after evaluating the situation has decided it is best for his future, on and off the court, to return to Clemson."

Rivers, a 6-foot-5 wing from Charlotte, could have put his name into the draft and rescinded it without penalty if he did so 10 days before the June 26 draft, and without hiring an agent. The deadline for underclassmen to enter their names is Sunday.

Declaring for the draft would've allowed Rivers to work out for teams and participate in pre-draft camps. Purnell said last month that doing so would have been a no-brainer for Rivers, mainly for the sake of getting valuable input from NBA personnel.

"I am thrilled to come back to Clemson for my senior year," Rivers said in the statement. "I obviously want to return and get my degree, but we have basketball goals to achieve. We improved last year, but there is more to do. I want to return and compete for an ACC championship."

Rivers averaged 14.7 points per game last season, leading Clemson to a 24-10 record and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. Clemson also advanced to the final of the ACC Tournament for the first time since 1962.

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the new Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/>