June 28, 2010
SEASIDE, Calif. – Former Cal State Monterey Bay basketball player #Augie Johnston# recently returned to the area after playing his first professional season with the Velbert Baskets.
Johnston graduated in the spring of 2009 with a degree in business. A two-year starter for the Otters, Johnston took on the role of assistant coach in the 2008-09 season.
“Augie was a great asset to my staff in my first season at CSUMB,” said men's basketball head coach #Rob Bishop#. “He has a great understanding of the game as both a player and a coach. He had a good season in Germany last year and is going to be moving up a league this year.”
Johnston recently sat down with
Otteratheltics.com to discuss his experience this past season.
1. You are playing professional basketball overseas, enlighten us about your team?
Last season I played for the Velbert Baskets in West Germany. Velbert is about 30 minutes from Dusseldorf and 40 minutes from Koln. My team was comprised of men of all ages. We had young players like 17 years old on our team that were still unproven but are essentially the future of that club. Our oldest player was 32 and he was very good too. Everyone on our team could shoot 3's besides maybe one guy. Most big men shoot well out there. Our PG was also one of the older guys and he was the best player on our team. He is one of the best passers I have ever played with. Next season I will play with the Rattlesdorf Independents one level higher and I hope I can help them in the shooting category. They shoot over 60 threes a game and press the whole game.
2. What kind of experiences are you encountering living in a foreign city?
The food is the biggest experience of all. Ordering it is not always easy, and some things are good and some bad. But it's Mexican Food I miss the most. Pretty much everyone there speaks English, but when you are out with a group of Germans you are kind of left out because they all speak in German. The best experience is meeting new people that have a different outlook on life. I made some good friends there.
3. Before going overseas, you made the transition from playing to coaching here at Cal State Monterey Bay. Tell us about your experience with that move.
That was a very challenging thing because I still had many friends on the team and so I had to get on them sometimes, but it wasn't so bad because they understood why I was doing it and I never took it too far.
4. Do you think when you finally hang up your uniform, will you look for a coaching job?
Yes I will definitely try to coach after I am done playing. I hope to teach and coach at the Junior college level.
5. What is your favorite memory with the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team?
I have so many that are my favorite I can't name them all, but I think for me it had to be when my teammate Richard Jenkins scored 57 points and grabbed 20 boards to be Western Washington. I remember telling him at one point in the game. “Man, you are playing well so don't stop for your gonna do something special.”
6. What drew you to coming to Cal State Monterey Bay?
It's only 2 hours from my house so my parents could come watch games and see me. I also liked the coaching staff a lot.
7. What do you miss most about not living in the United States?
Mexican food is No. 1 for sure, but I also miss friends and family too. Okay, maybe family and friends
first, *laughs*
8. What basketball players did you imitate when you were a kid?
It was always about Allen Iverson when I was younger although my game is nothing like his. I always wore his shoes and watched his games. I also liked Gary Payton.
9. What advice would you give to young players who dream of playing college and pro basketball?
I would definitely tell them that none of that is possible without good grades. I have multiple friends that have had their careers cut short because they didn't keep up their grades in school.
10. Will the Lakers make it a 3-peat?
I think so as along as everyone stays healthy.
