In a jaw-dropping turn of events that has shaken the college basketball and NBA development world to its core, the nation’s No. 1 high school basketball recruit — and tallest player in modern basketball history — has flipped his commitment from several NCAA powerhouses to join the Milwaukee Bucks’ developmental system.
Standing at an unprecedented 7 feet 9 inches, phenom center Dominique “Dom” Rivers has announced that he will forgo traditional college basketball routes, backing out of commitments to programs like Duke, NC State, and Alabama, and instead joining the Milwaukee Bucks’ new NextGen Elite pathway — a cutting-edge developmental system backed by the NBA franchise.
Rivers made the announcement on social media with a simple but powerful message: “Welcome to Bucks Basketball. Time to build my legacy where the future is already happening.”
A Basketball Unicorn
Dominique Rivers, who turned 18 just last month, has dominated headlines and highlight reels for over a year thanks to his freakish size, surprising agility, and a developing perimeter game that has drawn comparisons to a young Kristaps Porziņģis with the size of Yao Ming. At 7’9” with an 8’2” wingspan, Rivers shattered records in his senior high school season, averaging 31.6 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 6.8 blocks per game.
He was widely considered a lock for one of the blue-blood programs, having taken official visits to Duke, NC State, and Alabama. All three had tailored pitch strategies to secure him — Duke offering NBA-legacy coaching under Jon Scheyer, NC State promising a team built around him, and Alabama touting NIL deals reportedly worth over $1 million annually.
But in a move no one saw coming, Rivers rejected the NCAA entirely.
Why the Bucks?
Sources close to the decision reveal that Rivers was drawn to the Bucks’ revolutionary NextGen Elite model — an expansion of their G League and international scouting pipeline that allows players to live, train, and compete under NBA-level coaching and facilities without the demands of a full college schedule. It also allows players to monetize their image, sign professional contracts, and work directly with NBA development staff — all while preserving their long-term earning potential.
The Bucks are believed to have offered a multi-year, non-roster developmental contract — not making Rivers a full NBA player yet, but placing him on a path similar to past G League stars like Jalen Green and Scoot Henderson.
“This is where basketball is going,” Rivers said in an interview with SLAM. “Why spend a year pretending to be a college student when I can be getting NBA-ready with NBA people?”
NCAA and Fans React
The reaction across the basketball world has been swift and intense.
College basketball analysts are calling it a “paradigm shift” and “a potential turning point in how top talent views college vs. pro routes.” Meanwhile, fans of Duke, NC State, and Alabama expressed outrage on social media, with one Alabama supporter tweeting: “We offered him the moon. And he took Milwaukee?!”
But Bucks fans? They’re celebrating.
Milwaukee hasn’t traditionally been known as a destination for elite young talent outside of the NBA Draft, but with the development of their new NextGen program, Rivers’ commitment could open the floodgates. Already, reports indicate several top-25 high school recruits are reconsidering their options.
What’s Next?
Rivers is expected to join the Bucks’ training facilities later this summer, participating in Summer League preparation and a customized strength program. The organization has hinted at the possibility of Rivers seeing G League action by early next year, with an eye toward full NBA readiness by 2026.
For now, one thing is clear: the college basketball world has just been turned upside down. And Milwaukee, long seen as an underdog market, may have just landed the biggest fish in the pond.
Welcome to Bucks Basketball, indeed.
