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Dec 13

How Ypsilantis Caprice Augustine went from unknown to Division I basketball prospect – MLive.com

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YPSILANTI Caprice Augustine sat in the stands at the Michigan womens basketball game last Sunday, studying the Wolverines sophomore star Naz Hillmon.

Augustine, a 6-foot-2, junior forward for Ypsilanti, marveled at Hillmons game and envisioned herself in a similar form at the next level.

She was studying (Hillmon), said Ypsilanti assistant coach Lonjyno Bond. Everything she did, she watched her carefully. She goes, Coach, we need to work on that. Coach can we do that? And then she says, Coach, is there any way I could work out with her? Thats what I want to do, thats who I want to be.

This is someone who really wants to be good. She thinks she can be her.

Prior to the game, Augustine spent two hours working out at Planet Fitness, and then followed up the game with a two-hour practice with her team and finished the day with an extra hour of work after her teams practice.

Augustine rarely takes days off from her craft and its transformed her into one of the top players in the Ann Arbor area.

But two years ago, that wouldnt have been the case.

As a freshman, Augustine hadnt really played the game of basketball. She grew up in a family filled with volleyball players and originally thought that was the path she needed to take.

But Ypsilanti head coach Dwayne Scott and coach Bond saw a future for Augustine as a basketball player, even before she saw it for herself.

I used to tell her that some of the best basketball players are volleyball players, Scott said. Every time I looked at her, I looked at her build and I kept saying, (If) this kid works out a little and gets a little stronger, shell make an impact in basketball.

We told her, In order to get this basketball thing right, you may have to stop doing volleyball. And she was like, Nah, I love volleyball.

Scott moved Augustine up to the varsity during her freshman year to help her avoid bad habits in her development.

As time went on, Augustine began to see that her future could lie on the hardwood and during her sophomore season, the light switch came on.

One day, she walked in (the gym) and she had a jug of water in her hand and said, Coach, you know what, Im going to get in shape and see how this is going to work, Scott said.

And the kid came in, she started staying late after every practice, she started coming on weekends, working out and she started losing weight.

The junior forward gave up volleyball this fall to focus solely on basketball and ran cross country instead to improve her conditioning.

I came from a volleyball family," Augustine said. "Thats how I grew up and thats what I was naturally good at. I had those skills, but basketball, thats what always made me feel good.

Making a change

Augustines mindset had changed, and she was determined to improve her game.

I was kind of just going through the motions, Augustine said of her freshman mindset. I didnt really know what I was doing. Then sophomore year I was like, I want to be good at this. So, I changed my diet. Everybody knows me for bringing a gallon everywhere. I would drink one to two gallons every day.

After having a game where she scored zero points, she asked Bond if he would stay after practice with her to help her improve.

I figured itd be one or two days a week, Bond said.

But it was more than a day or two. It turned into six days a week, hours upon hours of extra work to aid in her development.

She really wanted to learn and get to understanding the game, Bond said. It has turned her entire game around. She really loves it.

Adding in the extra workouts, along with her water intake, and a changed diet, Augustine completely transformed her game and her body in the process.

Augustine has trimmed down from 235 from her freshman year, to 185. Shes also added muscle to her frame and its catching the eye of recruiters.

Its just been a journey, Augustine said. And then, its been hard, but I never let that get to me. I just try to stay strong.

After shining during the AAU circuit for 1Nation Elite over the summer, Augustine received offers from Eastern Michigan and Wayne State, with interests from others growing.

I just started studying the game and working after and trying to make myself better, Augustine said. I really felt like I was going to be great, so I had to just focus.

All Ive really been thinking is I want to get better. Because ever since freshman year, I always felt like, I dont know what Im doing. I just try to do as much as I can to be where I want to be and its really starting to come more easy and Im really getting it.

The best is yet to come

Augustines surge was on display in Ypsilantis season opener. She scored 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked five shots in a 57-9 win over Dearborn Heights Robichaud.

Its been a long journey for Augustine, but Scott believes this is just the beginning.

Its really not all about her, he said. Shes a pleasant girl. She doesnt brag about any of her accomplishments. Shes excited about the whole process but she doesnt have the big head. She knows she still has a lot of work to do. You can see that by the way she comes to practice and how she focuses up from getting out of class and all the things that she does. Im proud of her. Shes a good kid.

The success Augustine has earned to this point hasnt changed her and she has a message for everyone.

They should know how dedicated, Augustine. When I started getting looked at (by colleges), everybody was confused, like, When did you get good? I dont really put myself out there, but I feel like everybody needs to know that Im up and coming. Im not about to stop until I get big, big, big. I love my school. I appreciate everything they did for me. There are so many great people here.

MORE:

How a smaller ball created big change for girls basketball

Top 10 Ann Arbor-area high school girls basketball teams and players to watch in 2019-20

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How Ypsilantis Caprice Augustine went from unknown to Division I basketball prospect - MLive.com

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