By last fall, Rick Barnes had already put together a dynamite recruiting class. Texas had received five verbal commitments including one from five-star stud Kevin Durant. DJ Augustin was the cherry on top. He was the last of six future Longhorns to pledge his intentions. Augustin's signing transformed a top 20 class into a top 5 one.
Augustin is a 5'11" 180 senior point guard currently enrolled at Fort Bend Hightower High School outside of Houston. Augustin has not been in Texas long. DJ fled New Orleans last fall before the arrival of Hurricane Katrina. His life and path to college were forever altered.
DJ led Brother Martin High School in New Orleans to state titles in both his sophomore and junior years. He was relishing the opportunity for a three peat. Augustin burst onto the national stage during his sophomore year and the summer after. DJ was considered the best point guard in his class and was receiving attention from all the top schools. By his junior year, he had narrowed his choices to LSU, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Texas. The nearby LSU Tigers were the frontrunners. Augustin competed with and against many Tiger players throughout his high school career. Although LSU Coach John Brady is not considered an excellent Xs and Os coach, he has successfully convinced the top players in the state to stay close to home (Glen Davis, Tyrus Thomas, Brandon Bass, Tasmin Mitchell). As he began his senior year, DJ had narrowed his choices to just LSU and Texas. If not for Katrina, there is a good chance Augustin would be bound for Baton Rouge. After verbally committing to Texas last November, Augustin said, "I didn't want to go back to Louisiana because of all the things that happened and what might happen in the future."
According to Rivals.com, Augustin is a four star recruit, the sixth best point guard in his class, and the 54th best player in the country. DJ, along with fellow future Longhorn Durant, was one of two dozen high school seniors named McDonald's All Americans this spring. Augustin is a true point guard. He excels by penetrating and dishing to teammates. He can distribute easily with either hand and his interior passing may be his best attribute. When not passing, DJ can finish in the lane or hit the open jumper including the three pointer. At this point, he is a much better shooter off the catch than off the dribble. Augustine must get stronger and use his quickness more effectively on the defensive end to be successful at the college level. By all accounts, DJ is a special player. He has a great feel for the game and is incredibly unselfish.
Kenton Paulino was a decent but not a special point guard. AJ Abrams could be a very good point guard for Texas over the next three years. But if DJ reaches his potential at Texas, he could the special floor leader we have been missing since TJ Ford left for the NBA.
--AW--