Austin Rivers (left) and Anthony Davis (middle) form the young nucleus of Monty Williams’ New Orleans squad. (GETTY IMAGES)

In the first week of training camp, New Orleans Hornets head coach Monty Williams asked his squad that was gathered around him if anyone of them watched the presidential debate. Nearly all of them raised their hands. Then, Williams asked if they have spoken to their players’ union representative. No show of hands.

Williams reminded his young team that they need to be aware of their surroundings because our climate is changing, not just politically but also economically. They need to be aware of what is going on outside of basketball such as knowing their rights as players and details of the new collective bargaining agreement. Williams asked if any of them are aware of their union, and none of them seem to know. The coach also pointed to Roger Mason Jr., one of the main players during a very contentious negotiations with the league during the summer of 2011. Williams let his team know that Mason is a great source for anything union related, so they should take advantage.

Hornets camp is almost like a three-hour summer school session, with Williams playing the role of teacher and addressing a bunch of high school students. In reality, the Hornets are so young half of the team is only a few years removed from high school. The foundation of Williams’ squad are two 19-year-olds: Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers.

In his one and only season at the University of Kentucky, Davis was the consensus choice for college player of the year and powered the Wildcats to a national championship, in which he was named MVP of the Final Four. Rivers also played one season in college at Duke, and even though he didn’t have nearly the success Davis had the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers was one of the most dynamic players.

“We’re think of Austin (Rivers) and Eric (Gordon) as guys who can put the ball on the floor,” Hornets general manager Dell Demps told NBA TV. Demps firmly believes Gordon can become the leader of the Hornets, which is why he matched Phoenix’s $58 million offer sheet this offseason to keep the 6-foot-3, 215-pound shooting guard in New Orleans.

“I really want us to grow. That is the most important thing for us. We want to get better, and get ready for the future. We’re still in the early stages,” says Demps, who points to the fact that Gordon, center Robyn Lopez and forward Ryan Anderson are all going into their fifth seasons but are all under 25 years old.

Gordon remains sidelined with a knee injury but when he returns the Hornets will have a nice young talented nucleus that includes the 6-10 Davis, who has a unique skill set that is already NBA ready. “He’s definitely a power forward. He’s very long. He’s definitely one of the longest players I’ve ever played with,” Gordon said of the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft.

“His intangibles is crazy. He can block shots, he can rebound, and he can knock down that jump shot,” Gordon added.

The Hornets won only 21 games last season and was dead-last in the NBA in scoring. If Gordon can stay healthy, and Davis and Rivers contribute right away, the Hornets could be the surprise team in the Western Conference.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Austin Rivers is introduced at a press conference as the newest member of the New Orleans Hornets. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Learning on the job is part of the culture in the NBA. Austin Rivers knows this very well because his father, Glen “Doc”  Rivers, went through the same thing 30 years ago. But even though 19-year-old Austin has been groomed and prepped for life in the Association, it’s still a painful process — literally.

In his second game at the NBA Summer Pro League in Las Vegas, Austin Rivers took a beating against the Milwaukee Bucks. He hit the deck numerous times, slammed his left elbow on the floor, and took a shot to the knee that forced him to the bench for a few minutes. It’s the kind of physical game most first-year NBA players dread, a realization that this is a man’s game and the training wheels are off.

“Now is his time to grow. We’re putting the ball in his hands, putting the ball in the summer in his hands to see what he’s got,” Hornets assistant James Borrego told The Associated Press. Borrego, the Hornets’ head coach for their summer league team in Las Vegas, has Rivers playing point guard almost exclusively; a preview of what the Hornets are planning to do with the 10th overall selection in the 2012 NBA draft, who played mostly shooting guard at Duke and Winter Park High School (Fla.).

“Hopefully Austin’s that guy that can take that point guard position and run with it,” Borrego said. “There’s some things he’s got to learn as you go, but I think we’re all confident he can get there.”

So far Rivers is struggling as he adjusts to his new role as an NBA point guard. He went 1-for-6 and scored just six points against the Bucks on Monday. In two games, he’s now 4-for-19 from the field. He was outplayed by fellow rookie Damian Lillard in his summer league debut on July 15, as Lillard scored 25 points and looked more comfortable.

But in fairness to Rivers, Lillard was playing his natural point guard position while Rivers is still finding his way as a playmaker. Rivers did show some flashes of brilliance, splitting double teams with some nifty dribbling and getting to the free throw line by relentlessly attacking the basket.

“He’s a natural scorer. As a point guard, he can make it work though,” Borrego said. “He’s got to get better and he will. He’s putting in the time. He’s teachable. He’s coachable. He understands the game, which you want in a point guard. His instinct is to score but we’re trying to slow him down, learn our offense, learn our pace, learn our rhythm and I think those are things he’s going to get.”

The Hornets don’t want to slow Rivers down too much, seeing how Oklahoma City succeeded in turning Russell Westbrook from shooting guard to point guard. According to Hornets general manager Dell Demps, the team has matched the Phoenix Suns’ contract offer to guard Eric Gordon, so the Hornets envision a Rivers-Gordon backcourt in New Orleans to go with No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis in the frontcourt.

“We don’t want to put too much pressure on [Austin]. That’s what summer league is for. We’re here just evaluating,” Demps said. “It’s real early in the process. He only played one year in college. We’re going to take this slowly.”

Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis (left) is the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The New Orleans Hornets own the top pick in this week’s NBA draft and will most likely use it to select consensus college player of the year Anthony Davis of Kentucky. But after Davis is anyone’s guess. OneManFastBreak.net predicts who teams will pick in the first 14 slots.

1. New Orleans Hornets

Anthony Davis: PF, 6-10, 220, Kentucky, Fresh

Hornets coach Monty Williams got a lot of out of his beleaguered crew last season, but now he’s got a real thoroughbred in Davis — aka Fear the Brow . . . aka Unablocker. Davis should start immediately for the Hornets, and can play either the 4 or 5 position. His game is a mixture of Kevin Garnett, Marcus Camby, and Tim Duncan. He has the shot-blocking skills of Camby, the versatility of Garnett, and the demeanor of Duncan. Davis has uncanny guard skills for a big man because just three years ago he was a 6-3 shooting guard in high school. As soon as NBA commissioner David Stern announces Davis’ name with the first overall pick, the city of New Orleans will be buzzing about The Brow.

2. Charlotte Bobcats

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: SF, 6-6, 228, Kentucky, Fresh.

Can Michael Jordan screw this one up? He is certainly capable of mucking it up again based on his track record (i.e. Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison). Someone better give MJ some notes because he’ll need all the help he can get. Jordan took guard Kemba Walker last season so it is unlikely he’ll go guard again. He has two forwards to choose from: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Thomas Robinson. The Bobcats can benefit from both players, but Kidd-Gilchrist is a special player with loads of intangibles. MKG is not a prototype small forward, but he is absolutely relentless and brings energy and effort every night. He’s like Gerald Wallace without the hops. MKG is a flat-out winner and can single-handedly change the culture of a locker room.

3. Washington Wizards

Thomas Robinson: PF, 21, 6-9, 240, Kansas, Junior

The Wizards just unloaded overpaid forward Rashard Lewis and need to start fresh. Robinson plays bigger than his listed height, and age-wise is mature enough to handle the pro game. Maturity is the key word here because the Wizards lacked discipline on and off the court last season. Robinson is a safe pick. He is a tireless worker and brings a ton of physicality on the court. He has the physique of a WWE superstar and plays with a lot of energy, something JaVale McGee never brought to the table. Robinson should be a solid influence on franchise point guard John Wall.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Harrison Barnes: SF, 6-8, 223, North Carolina, Soph.

The Cavs need help everywhere, but their most glaring need is a consistent scorer on the wing. Bradley Beal is a viable option here, but he plays a similar game to reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving. They both need to dominate the ball to be effective. Barnes is a small forward who can play shooting guard. But more importantly, Barnes plays well off the ball, which should mesh well with Irving. The only knock on Barnes is his motor. He tends to disappear in some games and plays to the level of the competition. But Barnes’ NBA range is hard to ignore and he can be a Glen Rice-type pro.

5. Sacramento Kings

Andre Drummond: C, 6-11, 270, Connecticut, Fresh.

Drummond is a bit of a reach at No.5, but the Kings play in a division dominated by the L.A. Lakers and their Hollywood Hills in 7-footers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. So, adding more size up front to pair up with power forward DeMarcus Cousins is the right approach. The 18-year-old Connecticut big man has the size to compete in the NBA trenches and his ceiling is extremely high. He is hard to move on the block and athletic enough to defend the basket. The only question is: Will he bring it every night? Drummond is the classic high risk, high reward prospect.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Brooklyn)

Bradley Beal: SG, 6-3, 201, Florida, Fresh.

The Trail Blazers are looking for a replacement for the retired Brandon Roy and they’ll be keeping an eye on two shooting guards: Beal and Austin Rivers. Either one can fill their need but if forced to choose between the two Portland may lean toward the Florida guard. Beal is a natural-born scorer who can create his own shot. His game has been compared to Eric Gordon and Dwyane Wade, but the injury-ravaged Blazers will settle for the next Brandon Roy at this point. At 6-3 and 201, Beal is built like a running back and doesn’t shy away from contact.

7. Golden State Warriors

Damian Lillard: PG, 6-3, 189, Weber State, Junior

The Warriors desperately needs a combo guard who can fill Monta Ellis’ spot and be an insurance policy for Steph Curry, who can’t seem to stay healthy. Lillard is from Oakland and the Warriors will be kicking themselves if they pass up on a local kid. Lillard was a tremendous scorer at Weber State and has unlimited range as a shooter. He may not be a natural point guard, but he can play either guard position. Lillard follows in the footsteps of Jason Kidd and Gary Payton, two of the best point guards to come out of the Oakland area.

8. Toronto Raptors

Perry Jones: PF, 6-10, 220, Baylor, Soph.

When your center (Andrea Bargnani) prefers to drift beyond the 3-point line, you need an athletic power forward to balance the floor. The Raptors won’t publicly admit it but the Ed Davis project has fizzled and they need to address the power forward position yet again. Jones didn’t have a good sophomore season at Baylor, but he still has tremendous upside and could fill out once he matures physically. Some coaches project Jones as a small forward, but ESPN basketball expert Fran Fraschilla strongly believes he’ll be a power forward in the NBA. That would give the Raptors three quality big men in Bargnani, Jones, and last year’s pick Jonas Valanciunas.

9. Detroit Pistons

Meyers Leonard: C, 7-0, 250, Illinois, Soph.

There is always a high-riser in each draft, someone who was overlooked during the college season but opened eyes in the pre-draft workouts. This is year the hot name on the list is Meyers Leonard. The Illini big man is the tallest player in the draft and has impressed scouts at the Combine. Leonard is a space-eater in the paint, and you can’t enough big men in your roster. The Pistons are still reeling from the Darko Milicic debacle from 2003, and the Motor City folks are hoping Leonard can become Detroit’s center of the future and team up with power forward Greg Monroe.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota)

Jeremy Lamb: SG, 6-5, 185, Connecticut, Soph.

Eric Gordon says he’ll test the free agent market, so the Hornets better have a backup plan in case he bolts New Orleans. Lamb is a natural shooting guard who can easily transition to small forward because of his length (nearly 7 foot wingspan). So even if the Hornets retain Gordon, coach Monty Williams can play Lamb and Gordon at the same time. Lamb comes from a basketball-rich college program. He was a member of the UConn squad that won the national championship in 2011 and his path to the Association has been paved by former Huskies stars Ray Allen, Caron Butler, Richard Hamilton, and Ben Gordon.

11. Portland Trail Blazers

Tyler Zeller: C, 7-0, 250, North Carolina, Senior

There are not a lot of great centers in this year’s draft, but there are a few good ones. One of them is Zeller. Plug him in alongside LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the best power forwards in the NBA, and the Blazers instantly become one of the longest teams in the league up front. Zeller is an underrated low-post scorer and at 22 he should be able to contribute immediately. Zeller has a nice jump hook in the low post and runs the floor very well for a center. He may not thrill you with his finesse game, but Zeller is a solid pick and could have a long pro career.

12. Houston Rockets

John Henson: PF, 21, 6-11, 220, North Carolina, Junior

When head coach Kevin McHale started his abbreviated training camp last season, he noticed he was the tallest player on the court. Ouch! The Rockets need size up front and Henson could be in the team’s future plans. Assuming the Rockets re-sign point guard Goran Dragic and trade Kyle Lowry, the Rockets will have a decent starting five led by Luis Scola and Kevin Martin. Henson can develop into a good NBA power forward if he puts on some pounds . . . a lot of pounds.

13. Phoenix Suns

Austin Rivers: SG, 6-3, 203, Duke, Fresh.

If Rivers falls to Phoenix at No. 13 it will be the steal of the draft. Most scouts have Beal ahead of Rivers, but it wouldn’t be a complete shock if Rivers — the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers — eventually turn into a better pro than Beal. Rivers showed just flashes of brilliance in the Duke system, but his game is tailor-made for the NBA and is a top-five talent. Rivers may be the second-best player in the draft talent-wise behind only Anthony Davis. But his swagger borders on arrogance, which is a reason why teams will pass on him. But the Suns have nothing to lose, and what better way to rebuild their fastbreak offense by adding a player who loves to shoot the ball.

14. Milwaukee Bucks

Terrence Jones: SF, 6-8, 240, Kentucky, Soph.

After trading Bogut to Golden State and losing Stephen Jackson via a trade, Milwaukee is woefully thin in the frontcourt and will reach for a big man at No. 12. But if Jones is still on the board the Bucks won’t be able to resist taking the Wildcat forward, who has all the tools to become a solid NBA starter. Jones can play small forward or power forward, and can fill that “stretch 4” that most teams now covet.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

James McAdoo and Michael Gilchrist were named co-MVPs at the McDonald's High School All-American game in Chicago. (COURTESY OF ST. PATRICK HIGH SCHOOL)

The McDonald’s High School All-American game is annually one of the best games for all basketball fans because it offers a window to the future of the sport.

The game itself is not too entertaining because of all the bad shots, failed alley-oops and turnovers but the event serves its purpose in terms of evaluating talent and seeing who is overrated or underrated. Here are a few observations from Wednesday’s game held at the United Center in Chicago:

— Michael Gilchrist (St. Patrick HS, New Jersey) and James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian, Virginia) were named co-MVPs without doing anything spectacular. However, both were very solid and should help out their future teams. Gilchrist, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds, should immediately become Kentucky’s best on-the-ball defender and will won’t need any set plays to get his points. McAdoo, the nephew of former North Carolina great Bob McAdoo, plays with great efficiency and should fit perfectly in Roy Williams’ system at UNC.

— Duke University-bound guard Austin Rivers (Winter Park HS, Florida) was looking very ordinary until he made that gorgeous NBA-like move when he blew by a couple of defenders with a vicious crossover dribble and then finished in style at the rim with a reverse layup. That one play alone showed why Rivers – who is the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers – is the No. 1-rated high school player in the United States.

— Brad Beal (Chaminade College Prep, Missouri) is a scorer. The 6-5 shooting guard went right at Rivers early on and wasn’t afraid to go head-to-head against the best. He should fill up the scoreboard for Billy Donovan at the University of Florida.

— Myck Kabongo (Findlay Prep, Nevada) is a blur. The 6-1 point guard from Las Vegas has two gears: fast and superfast. He has the best handles in his class and has the look of a floor general. The University of Texas has a gem in its hands.

— Speaking of point guards, Quinn Cook (Oak Hill Academy, Virginia) and Marquis Teague (Pike HS, Indiana) entered the contest with a ton of hype, but both were somewhat disappointing. Cook didn’t really do much in the game and appears much shorter than his listed height of 6 feet. Teague is regarded as the top point guard in the United States, but he was shaky offensively and made too many mistakes.

— Indiana University has been looking for the next big Hoosier star and lead IU back to prominence and Tom Crean may have found his savior in 6-10 center Cody Zeller (Washington HS, Indiana). Zeller is a natural post player who can alter a game on both ends of the court. He also runs the floor extremely well for a big guy and is a solid rebounder.

— Pittsburgh normally doesn’t get many McDonald’s All-Americans, but head coach Jamie Dixon has a good one in 6-9 center Khem Birch (Notre Dame Prep, Massachusetts). Birch had 15 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. And about the only thing he did wrong during the game was wearing those hideous long-sleeve undershirt. C’mon, Khem. It wasn’t that cold inside the United Center.

— Zeller and Birch are head and shoulders better than Duke-bound center Marshall Plumlee (Christ School, North Carolina), who is a little soft and barely made an imprint in the game.

— Anthony Davis (Perspectives Charter, Illinois) has the highest ceiling among all the players in the game. He reportedly grew 6 inches in 12 months and went from a guard to a forward. The Kentucky-bound Davis is long and plays very fluid. When he gets more comfortable with his size, he’ll be dynamite. John Calipari has another outstanding freshman class coming to Lexington, and Davis is at the top of that class.