Former Longhorn Augustin Taken Ninth in NBA Draft By Charlotte Bobcats

Former Texas point guard D.J. Augustin was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Augustin’s selection makes Texas the only school in the nation to have had a player taken in the top ten in each of the last three NBA Drafts, joining former Longhorn standouts Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Augustin will join a Bobcats team that has never won more than 33 games, but is returning several young players and is expected to get two key players back from injury, including former No. 3 overall pick Adam Morrison. Despite the team’s lack of recent success, Charlotte could be an ideal setting for Augustin, as coach Larry Brown has been known for his success in grooming young point guards. “I’m used to playing for tough coaches. Coach Barnes is a tough coach, and I’m ready to take on this challenge”, Augustin told ESPN on Thursday when asked about Brown’s demanding coaching style.

The match may not be as ideal for Austin residents hoping to follow D.J.’s professional career however, as Charlotte played only one nationally televised game last season.

Despite having long been projected as a lottery pick, it remained a mystery exactly where Augustin would land heading into Draft Night. The Indiana Pacers had been considered the most likely destination for D.J., that is until the team traded for another former Longhorn, T.J. Ford, to fill their need at point guard earlier in the day. Sacramento, New Jersey and Portland had also shown interest in the first team All-American.

Augustin leaves Texas having averaged 16.9 points and 6.2 assists over 73 career games. As a sophomore Augustin won the Bob Cousy Award as the top point guard in the nation in addition to being named a finalist for the Naismith and Wooden Awards

Elsewhere in the Big XII

Despite rumors that they were looking to trade down, the Miami Heat took Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley with the second overall pick. Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur of Kansas joined Augustin and Beasley in the first round, although both were immediately dealt by their new teams. Rush was selected No. 13 overall by Portland but was traded to Indiana, where he will join his brother Kareem, formerly of the University of Missouri. Conversely, Arthur was traded to Portland after being taken 27th by New Orleans.

Second round picks include DeAndre Jordan of Texas A&M, Darnell Jackson, Mario Chalmers and Sasha Kaun of Kansas, Bill Walker of Kansas State and Mike Taylor of Iowa State.