Decision day drawing nearer for Augustin

In basketball recruiting, September is a busy time of the year. With campuses bustling with students and faculty and football games dominating Saturdays from sun up to long past sundown, it's the best time to get top prospects in town for visits. For two programs, they are hoping D.J. Augustin sees enough to pick their respective school.

Augustin has already unofficially visited his two finalists, LSU and Texas. But the No. 54 ranked player in the class of 2006 said he wanted to make two more trips to just make help clear his mind on his decision.

"This time I wanted to see what life was like with the students on campus," Augustin said. "Before, the only people that I really interacted with were the basketball and baseball players. I want to see everyday life on campus when all of the students are there."

LSU will have Augustin first for an official trip on Sept. 2-4. Then it's to Austin, Texas on Sept. 16-18.

"After I get back, I'm going to be ready to commit to one of the them," Augustin said. "It's really head to head with both schools. I'm comfortable with both. Each of them has a nice family environment and I feel like I could come into both of them and be able to control the team as a point guard if I work hard."

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound point guard from Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, La., was solid on the summer circuit this year. He decided to take more of a leadership role and set up some of his teammates for success while playing in front of college coaches.

"I knew going into the summer that I already had my final two schools so I wanted to watch my other guys get a chance to shine," Augustin said. "(Former AAU teammate and LSU freshman) Tasmin Mitchell did it for me. Brandon Bass did it for him. I figured it was my time to do it for my teammates and give them a chance to show what they can do."

Augustin did a nice job of being a pass first floor general all the while still showing off is deadly range with the perimeter jumper. For either LSU or Texas, Augustin will be a great addition to the backcourt and a steady leader for the course of four years. Decision day is getting closer and closer.