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So there I was, shopping at my new favorite men's store when all of a sudden a tall, lanky dude walks right past me. I say to myself, 'It can't be.' So I continued my shopping. I get to the cash register and this same dude is two people ahead of me. As he is writing his check for a suit he just got fitted to wear, a question kept burning in my mind, and after a few seconds, I boldly asked, 'Are you James Augustine?' The cashier and the one guy in front of me starts to look at him as if to say 'are you someone famous?'. Then he replied with a slight shock and smile in his face, 'Yeah; I am.' then, at that moment, I exposed him, 'You're the rookie that got drafted in the 2nd round by the Magic!' and at that point everyone got exposed. Based on the questions that the guy in front of me was asking, it was clear that all he knows about basketball is that Orlando has a basketball team named the Orlando Magic. The serious looking cashier girl transformed into this giddy little girl with a grin from ear to ear and I began looking like someone who knew something for a change.

James Augustine and I small talked for a little bit about how good he did in the summer leagues and about how good everyone believes the Magic will do this season. I already knew that he was in a rush because the Orlando Magic usually practice around 2pm which was about an hour away. After our brief conversation, he grabbed his suit and left. When he left, everyone watched as he drove off into the sunset in his obviously new Cadillac Escalade. After he left, I began to think about something he said at the beginning of our talk. 'Your the first person who recognized me.' Can that really be? I mean, sure he's been traveling around a bit but he's been here since June, been on the front page of the Magic's site and even had a couple of positive articles written about him. How can I be the first one to notice him? Am I really the only Orlando Magic fan in town?

Sure Augustine (41st overall pick in the 06' draft) didn't have the hype that J.J. Redick had as the 11th pick of the draft for the Orlando Magic, after all Redick left the NCAA as one of it's most accomplished players. However, James Augustine has a lot to bring to the Magic and the NBA. As a senior in Illinois Augustine made First-Team All-Big Ten selection by league coaches and second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media ... First-Team NABC All-District 11 selection ... Team Tri-Captain ... Second on the Illini in scoring with an average of 13.6 points ... Scored in double figures 28 times, leading the Illini in scoring in 10 games ... Tied his career high three times on the season with 23 points vs. Xavier (Dec. 3), vs. Michigan (Jan. 14) and at Michigan (Feb. 21) ... Second in the Big Ten and fourth in the NCAA in field goal shooting at 62.4 percent (174-279) ... Third in the Big Ten in rebounding with an average of 9.1 boards ... Had 12 double-doubles on the year ... Tied his career high in rebounding with 15 boards vs. Michigan State (March 10) ... Big Ten Player of the Week on Dec. 5, and these are just a few of his accomplishments. Once James Augustine gets his feet wet in the NBA, I have no doubt that he'll be one of those players that every coach wants on his team. If for some reason Darko Milicic doesn't pan out, Brian Hill and the rest of the Magic staff will more then likely turn to Augustine to fill in the gap. Both Augustine and Dwight Howard are rebound magnets so it could workout big time for the Magic.

So if you live in the Orlando area, next time you see James Augustine, understand that you're watching a man with a bright future in the NBA. Till next time, see ya.

If you want to read more about James Augustine's basketball history go to:

http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/augustine_james00.html