A Homecoming: Paris Austin

Often times, when someone masters a craft, those who admire that ability may forget how many hours, and just how much sacrifice, went into that mastery. Individuals can become so accustomed to seeing things look so effortless that they eventually lose sight of just how much effort it took to be successful.

That’s how it is to see Paris Austin play basketball.

Before Austin was even in high school, he had a knack for making things look easy out there on the court.

Indeed, as far back as an eighth-grade AAU travel-ball tournament in Reno, Nevada, he made it clear that he had talent beyond his years.

Steve “Rossi” Arasomwan, then coach of the eighth-grade Oakland Soldiers, purposefully put Austin’s team in the “ninth-grade elite” bracket. Other coaches had told Arasomwan not to do so. Why? Because this bracket would be featuring the top ninth-grade talent from all throughout the country.

Even back then Austin saw himself as one of the best players in the country. So, of course, he rose to the occasion.

“That weekend let me know,” Arasomwan said. “The fact that [Austin] could lead a younger team to 4-2 against older competition was very telling. Whenever you play against people older than you, and hold your own or outshine them, it lets you know that person has a chance.”

Austin went to high school in the same city he was born and raised in, Oakland, California, at Bishop O’Dowd, where he would play with big man Ivan Rabb, one of his teammates on that eighth-grade Oakland Soldiers team.

Rabb, now 6 feet 11, would go on to be named – his senior season – the top player in the state of California, play two years at Cal-Berkeley and, in the 2017 NBA Draft, get picked by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Back to the end of their high school careers: The O’Dowd Dragons’ first loss of the 2014-15 season came by way of Ben Simmons, current Philadelphia 76ers superstar, and Monteverde Academy. Next, Austin and company took two losses to Dwayne Bacon and Oak Hill Academy. Bacon is now a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Lastly, the Dragons fell to Wesleyan Christian Academy. Harry Giles III, the Sacramento Kings’ forward, was dominating at Wesleyan at the time.

“He’s like a brother and I know he only knows how to be one way, and that’s himself. That translates on and off the court,” Rabb said. “When he plays he’s fun to watch, he’s exciting and he’s flashy. When you’re with him in person, he’s a great person to have around and he brings a spark to the room.”

Ultimately, Austin and Rabb led their team to a 28-4 record on the season – as well as a CIF open division championship, the state’s most competitive.

With Rabb headed to Berkeley, Austin opted to commit to Boise State. This marked a huge win for the Broncos; he was the highest-ranked basketball recruit in school history.

Then came his freshman season. He averaged four points, two rebounds and one assist per game.

“I felt like Boise didn’t utilize me to the fullest my freshman year. I was only getting about 15 minutes,” Austin said. “If I had the opportunity to play 20 to 25 minutes, I believe I could have been first team all-freshman of the Mountain West Conference, if not freshman of the year.”

Austin told himself he’d give it one more year in Boise.

His freshman season, he started three games. His sophomore season: 18. With his minutes increasing, so did his numbers. He averaged 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal per game, and the Broncos went 20-12.

All the same, Austin transferred to Cal-Berkeley.

“Coming back to play at home, I don’t want to say it was a dream come true but it was close,” Austin said. “I would always go to Cal games growing up, so it was a no brainer.”

Although he had to sit out the 2017-18 season, he started 2018-19 strong. Not only did he start all 27 games, he averaged 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Numbers almost identical to his sophomore season at Boise State.

His decision to come home and his level of play once he returned to the Bay Area – all of that, had more than just him excited. Who would be more pleased seeing Austin in a Cal uniform, playing at the highest level in his career? None other than one of his best friends.

“There’s so many resources that UC Berkeley has to offer,” Rabb said.

He added, “There’s no limit to the new things you can get into and hobbies you can develop while you’re on campus there. I’ve loved being able to see him grow at Cal.”

While Austin’s numbers were similar, the competition was not. Pac-12 play is far more competitive than the Mountain West

In 2019, there were 67 former Pac-12 student-athletes on NBA Opening Day rosters. The Mountain West Conference had just 15.

Austin was playing the best basketball of his college career, yet his team was struggling. The Bears finished at 8-23, only winning three of 15 conference games.

“I was raised to always set high goals for myself and to always believe that I can do better,” he said. “Plus, I do believe that everything happens for a reason.”

DeMar Dunn, Austin’s former middle and high school AAU teammate and longtime friend, reflected on just how far Austin’s optimism has taken him.

“It’s been a surreal experience seeing his progression. I think most people enjoy seeing their homies get that far in life,” Dunn said. “Especially when they can turn one of their dreams into reality.”

A reality that Austin had no idea could be taken away from him so quickly.

Austin was with his Cal Bears teammates in a Las Vegas hotel when he heard a loud knock at the door. The words, “Come out here!” crisply rang through the door. Initially, he thought maybe one of his teammates had gotten the entire team in some trouble.

Little did he know, sports as the entire world knew them were in trouble.

It was March 2020. Just a few days before, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Suddenly, everything had changed.

In the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament, Austin had guided Cal to a win over rival Stanford. He led the game in scoring with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal.

Once he opened his hotel room door, he was told that after the Stanford game, fans weren’t allowed to come to games anymore. Only family and friends with tickets.

The following morning, head coach Mark Fox arranged a meeting with all his players and staff. It was now Fox’s job to tell everyone the season had been canceled.

“My initial reaction was anger, like someone flipped a switch in my brain,” Austin said. “I left the room in tears because I knew there was no coming back from that. When it was taken away from me, it hurt.”

When the season ended, Cal was 14-18. And that is how the 2019-20 NCAA season will have to remain forever.

Now, Austin is back with his family in Oakland. Whenever he isn’t social distancing, he’s running hills and stairs on his favorite trails throughout the city. Since open gyms and parks are hard to come by, Austin’s conditioning training has become even more aggressive.

Asked what is next, Austin said with confidence, “I’m going to play ball.”

He added, “Right now, I’m deciding between playing overseas or trying for the NBA. Currently, I’m looking for the right agent to put me in the best position to succeed.”