Jordan Augustus isn’t stressing over her college decision. Instead she is working on making sure her game is ready for wherever she goes.
“I don’t really try to think about that,” she said. “I just try to go on the court and do what I have to do.”
The Bronx native has a long list of suitors — with major Division-I women’s basketball programs like St. John’s, Miami, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Rutgers and Kentucky leading the way. The rising senior, who plays at St. Mary’s in Manhasset and with the NYC Heat travel team, is well known for her abilities in the paint, especially on the offensive end. The 6-foot forward can dominate there. She has a 36-point game under her belt already this summer at the Boo Williams tournament.
“Her interior game, she just does stuff that men do,” NYC Heat coach Kevin White said. “Offensively the moves that she has, you won’t see a lot of female basketball players do.”
The missing piece in Augustus’ mind is being able to hit 3-pointers consistently. It’s especially important with her being projected to play on the perimeter as a small forward in college. She’s taken the task seriously and is going to the gym with St. Francis Prep head Coach and Heat Assistant Kerri White two to three days a week to take as many shots as possible. Augustus is happy with her progress so far.
“I feel like I will be unguardable once I add that to my game,” she said
Augustus has already visited Georgia Tech and has checked out St. John’s and Rutgers unofficially. She expects to take more trips after the travel ball season. She isn’t in a rush to make a decision, but would like to have picked a school before her senior season starts at St. Mary’s. She doesn’t anticipate a new program being added to her list of possibilities. Augustus wants to be loyal to the schools that have been loyal to her.
She is coming off the best season of her career after helping to lead St. Mary’s to the CHSAA Nassau/Suffolk title and a trip to the CHSAA Class AA state semifinals. She understands the team’s goals will be set even higher this year with much of the squad’s main players returning to the roster.
It’s nothing new to Augustus, who has learned to deal with high expectations. White has seen Augustus play harder more consistently this summer.
“To have all those expectations on you when you’re a young kid, it takes a while for you to grasp it and understand it,” White said. “I just think it is part of the whole development as a adult.”
Until November, Augustus’ focus will be on developing her game further and being better prepared to help St. Mary’s make a push at a CHSAA state title. She wants to leave little doubt in people’s minds about her talent.
“It’s just a respect factor,” Augustus said. “I want to go out this summer and let everyone know that I’m the best.”
