Augustin’s ceremony a big hit
MAGIC faced the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on Sunday.
Augustin conducts his basketball camp each summer at Brother Martin and said he wouldn’t have it anywhere else. His desire to keep his camp in his hometown symbolizes the bond he still has — and will always have — with his alma mater.
“There was a time when the [alumni drove] to Texas to see me play. It’s like I said, it’s just that special bond that we have and I want to continue that for life,” Augustin said.
John Lavie, who coached Augustin and Brother Martin to those state titles in 2004 and 2005, said it was easy to be successful with a player of Augustin’s caliber on your team. Lavie credited his star player for making him look good as a coach.
“He was wonderful. He was a great team player, great kid,” Lavie said. “Like I was telling you before, all of a sudden I became a very smart coach.”
Lavie also spoke with pride when talking about the person, rather than the player, Augustin has become.
“I think he’s just a beautiful man,” Lavie said. “He’s got great kids. He’s got a great family. I’m so proud of how his commitment to community and giving back [developed], and it makes me proud to say that I coached him, or better yet that he coached me.”
Barry Hebert was the school’s athletic director when Augustin played at Brother Martin. Hebert, who now serves as Brother
Martin’s director of school services, said Saturday’s ceremony marked one of those events that show how fulfilling teaching and coaching can be.
“It’s been special,” Hebert said of the event. “Just seeing D.J.’s family come back home, it makes you feel like what we do here as teachers and coaches, it’s all worthwhile. These are the moments you live for. We’ve got our problems every day like everybody else, but this makes it all worthwhile in this profession.”
Other notable Brother Martin athletes include Rick Robey, who was part of the Crusaders’ state title team of 1974 before winning a national title with Kentucky and an NBA title with the Boston Celtics; Ken Bordelon, who was an All-SEC performer at linebacker for LSU before playing six seasons (1976-1982) for the New Orleans Saints; Eddie Robinson, who who played 11 years in the NFL and was a starting linebacker for the Tennessee Titans during their Super Bowl XXXIV season; and Chito Martinez, who was drafted in 1984 as an outfielder by the Baltimore Orioles and spent parts of three seasons (1991-1993) with the team.
Hebert said one of the school’s trophy cases features a picture of Robey and a picture of Augustin sitting in the gym bleachers in a “that was then and this is now” moment for Brother Martin athletics.