The Official Site of DJ Augustin

Thu, Apr 24th 2008, 16:39

DJ heading to the NBA

Texas sophomore point guard D.J. Augustin and backcourt mate A.J. Abrams have each decided to submit their names for the NBA Draft without hiring an agent.

Longhorns coach Rick Barnes advised Augustin to follow this course of action.

“Why not?” Barnes said earlier this week.

Although Augustin theoretically could return to UT by withdrawing his name before June 16, a source close to the program said that is doubtful.

“I don’t think he’s looking back,” the source said.

Augustin’s statement lends credence.

“I have had a great experience here at the University of Texas,” Augustin said. “All I can say is ‘thank you’ to my teammates, coaching staff and fans that have supported us during my two years at Texas.

“I have matured a lot as a person, both on and off the court. I have dreamed of playing in the NBA since I was a little boy, and I am ready to start living this dream.”

Augustin will be the eighth player Barnes prematurely has lost to the NBA.

Abrams, on the other hand, is not likely to find a great deal of interest, according to various NBA scouts and well could be back for his senior season. Listed at 5-foot-11, Abrams is considered too short to play shooting guard at the NBA level.

He averaged 16.5 points a game for Texas this past season as it made the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.

“Right now, I have the opportunity to test the waters to see where I stand,” Abrams said. “If I’m comfortable with where I feel I’ll be drafted, I’ll stay in the draft. If not, I’ll be back for my senior year.”

Though some in the NBA also question Augustin’s size (6 feet), the 2008 Cousy Award winner as college basketball’s top point guard is also given a good chance of success because of his natural instincts and his ability to both shoot from long range and create his own shot in a variety of ways, similar to New Orleans’ Chris Paul.

NBA sources and mock drafts project Augustin as a fringe lottery pick to late first-rounder.

Augustin was a consensus All-American and led the Big 12 with an average of 5.8 assists per game. His 19.2 points a game was second to Kansas State’s Michael Beasley.

Texas will miss Augustin’s unique talents, but is not without answers at the position.

At some point next season, freshman point guard Douglas Balbay should inherit the role — although if Abrams returns, he and junior Justin Mason could share the spot.

Balbay was recruited to back up Augustin this season, but had knee surgery Oct. 30. The NCAA subsequently levied an 11-game suspension because the Turkish native played on a professional team in Europe last summer, although he did not receive compensation.

He was medically cleared to play before UT’s March 1 game at Texas Tech, but did not see action. UT officials are awaiting word on whether the clock on Balbay’s suspension can start at that point, which would mean he might miss only one game next season.

Texas signee J’Covan Brown of Port Arthur Memorial is projected as a No. 2 guard, but played the point in high school. He has not qualified academically.

Augustin’s declaration opens a second scholarship days before a scheduled weekend visit by 6-8 small forward Devin Ebanks, rated 11th overall in the class of 2008 and the nation’s top unsigned player as rated by Rivals.com.

Ebanks was released from a letter-of-intent he signed with Indiana after the firing of coach Kelvin Sampson.