DENNIS AUSTIN III LIFE AND BASKETBALL

Dennis Austin III was born in Gary, Ind. on May 24, 1995. I met Austin when he played basketball for Apple Valley High School. I was able to email him to ask him a few questions about himself and his basketball background.

Austin grew up in Indiana and moved to Minnesota when he was 14 years old. He attended Apple Valley Middle School before transferring to Hidden Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake and then he transferred to Nicollet Middle School in Burnsville, Minn.

He has two older brothers Richard and Emmanuel Riley and two younger siblings John McGill and Jazmyne Seymoure.

Austin graduated in 2014 from Apple Valley High School.  

He played football through his junior year of high school and has also played basketball. Austin started playing basketball when he was in the fifth grade.

I asked him what basketball means to him he said: “To me basketball means, a way out. It’s a way to separate me from all the negative things around, growing up not having anything and borrowing and begging people for rides because of not having transportation or seeing my mother so hungry but making sure her five kids are full. That's what drives me. It’s more than just basketball to me. It’s my life, it’s all I have, and basketball is what keeps my family close besides our love for each other. Seeing my mother in the front row of every games that she could make it to, felt so good. I love my mother we haven't always seen eye to eye and we've had our fallouts. But even though she's tough she's also cares about what best for her family.”

Austin is currently redshirting the 2014-2015 season at Upper Iowa University which is a NCAA DII basketball program which is located in Fayette, Iowa.

Austin had a hard time growing up. He didn’t have a father that was around. He looks up to his older brothers. His mother takes care of all 5 of the children.   

He is close to his family. Austin is continually working on his game. Austin and his brothers hit the gym every time he gets home from school for about three hours. Austin said: “I have a lot of people to thank for pushing me through high school and getting me prepared for school so many people”.  He is very thankful for all the help that he received throughout his life for pushing him through basketball and school.

While at Apple Valley High School Austin had a chance to play with Tyus Jones. Jones was one of Minnesota’s top basketball recruits coming out of Minnesota in the class of 2014. Jones plays for Duke University where in 2014-2015 was his freshman season.

Austin said that Playing with Jones was, “Man. Speechless. Tyus is my brother… Playing with him helped me become a better player on and off the court. Watching him handle himself in pressure situations and how he respects the game of basketball is incredible. Everyone knows he’s talented, but no one really knows how much work he puts in. I started working out with him probably my sophomore year , we were friends already but I didn’t start working out with him until then, now my game has completely changed, I play guard in college now I’m 6-foot-3 200 lbs. and it’s because of Tyus and his older brother Jadee . They treated me like family since day one and even though I missed a lot of lay ups in games that probably cost him some double doubles, they both still welcomed me. The whole Jones family is incredible. We still work out every time were home early in the morning or late at night Tyus, Tre and Jadee we all in there working. Seeing how badly that want it and what level he's already on, makes me wanted even more. Coming to Apple Valley as a freshman and playing with my brother Tyus, was probably the best thing to happen to me for basketball. He makes his teammates better and we are always going to be family.”

I was able to email Apple Valley’s head coach Zach Goring and asked him about Austin. Goring said, “Dennis is a great kid. Both on and off the court Dennis has come a long way. Dennis would be the first to tell you that academically Dennis didn't put in the amount of time necessary his 9th and 10th grade years.  He refocused his junior and senior year in the classroom and graduated and was eligible to play his freshman year at Upper Iowa but he redshirted. On the court he has changed into more of a perimeter player this year at Upper Iowa.  When he is back from school he usually stops by the gym. As a coach, you know that they had a good experience if they want to come back and say hi.”

I was able to catch up with Austin at the 2015 Minnesota State High School state basketball tournament and we were able to talk about basketball and the state tournament.

I personally know Austin. He is a good person to be around and he is a good guy on and off the court. He puts in a lot of work on and off the basketball court. To me I think that Austin will keep growing as a player and his hard work on and off the court will play off big time.

CRETIN-DERHAM HALL TOOK ON APPLE VALLEY IN THE SECTION 3AAAA FINALS

Farmington was the location for the Cretin-Derham Hall vs. Apple Valley boys basketball Section 3, Class 4A boys basketball final on March 6.

 

Cretin-Derham Hall jumped out to early 8-2 lead with 16:46 left in the first half. That is when Apple Valley called its first timeout.

 

Apple Valley looked to get the ball into the hands of Tyus Jones. Jones was all over the floor. He was able to get to the basket and hit mid-range jump shots. Teammate Robert Tobroxen came up with three-point shots in the first half. His teammates were able to get him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

Apple Valley swung the ball around the three-point line as they looked for the shot that they wanted.

 

Dennis Austin came up rebounds and was able to make layups.

 

Jones tied the score at 26 on a layup with just over eight minutes left in the first half.

 

Apple Valley called a timeout with 7:49 left in the first half. The score was Apple Valley 27, Cretin-Derham Hall 26.

 

Austin came up with mid-range jump shots in the first half.

 

Cretin-Derham Hall called a timeout with 6:56 left in the first half. The score was Apple Valley 31, Cretin-Derham Hall 26.

 

Cretin-Derham Hall’s George Hottinger got hot from behind the three-point line. He was able to hit shots with a guy’s hand in his face.

 

Apple Valley continued to hit shots late in the first half.

 

At halftime the score was Apple Valley 44, Cretin-Derham Hall 38.

 

Cretin-Derham Hall’s Donell Gresham was all over the floor on the offensive end. He stepped up and was able to knock down shots throughout the game. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he was able to hit shots.

 

Austin was able to get to the line and make his free throws.

 

Cretin-Derham Hall called a timeout with 14:20 left in regulation. The score was Apple Valley 49, Cretin-Derham Hall 44.

 

The score went back and forth midway through the second half.

 

Michael Hannon stepped up and knocked down some big shots to keep Cretin-Derham Hall in the game.

 

Apple Valley went on a 10-4 run with just over 7:00 left in regulation.  Cretin-Derham Hall called a timeout with 7:19 left in regulation. The score was Apple Valley 63, Cretin-Derham Hall 57.

 

Cretin-Derham Hall had a two point lead with 57.9 seconds left in regulation. Jones hit a layup on the next possession and then Apple Valley called a timeout.

 

Cretin-Derham Hall let the clock wind down.

 

The game was tied at 74 at the end of regulation.

 

In the four minute overtime period Cretin-Derham Hall swung the ball around the three-point line as they wanted to take time off the clock.

 

The game was tied at 74 after the first overtime period. There was another four minute overtime period.

 

In the second overtime period Apple Valley continued to look to get the ball into Jones hands.

 

Jones and Austin got injured on a play. Jones did reenter the game.  Austin fell on his back and was transported to the hospital.

 

Cretin-Derham Hall came away with the 89-77 overtime victory over Apple Valley.

 

With that victory Cretin-Derham Hall advances to the Minneosta State Tournament.

 

The leading scorers for Apple Valley were Jones with 35 points and Bertram with 17 points

 

The leading scorers for Cretin-Derham Hall were Hanson with 26 points and Gresham with 25 points.

 

After the game I was able to talk to Newman about the game. I was also able to talk to Cretin-Derham Hall head coach Jerry Kline about the game.

 

I was joined by the Twin Cities Hoop Czar. Check out his thoughts on the Apple Valley vs. Cretin-Derham Hall game.

APPLE VALLEY TOOK ON ROSEVILLE IN A BASKETBALL GAME

Apple Valley and Roseville went up against each other in the final game of the first day of the 2013 Granite City Classic.

 

The game got off to a quick start as each team raced up and down the floor.

 

Apple Valley looked to get the ball into the hands of Tyus Jones. Tyus Jones drove to the basket and was able to get his shot going in the first half. He was able to get his team in an offensive groove.

 

Roseville was able to counter that as they attacked the basket.  

 

Apple Valley caught fire midway through the second half. They were able to get fast breaks and slow down Roseville down in transition.

 

Tyus Jones continued to run the offense for Apple Valley. His was able to make layups and jump shots throughout the first half.

 

Gary Trent Jr. for Apple Valley knocked down some deep three-point shots late in the first half.

 

At halftime the score was Apple Valley 49, Roseville 38. Tyus Jones scored 19 points in the first half.
 

As the second half for underway Apple Valley continued to hit their shots. Tyus Jones continued to run the show.

 

Apple Valley was able to slow down the Roseville offense in the second half. Roseville was not able to get their offense going because of the Apple Valley defense.

 

Roseville kept on attacking the basket late in the contest. Even though they struggled to shoot the ball they were not afraid to shoot it.

 

Apple Valley came away with the 112-81 victory over Roseville.

 

The leading scorer for Apple Valley was Tyus Jones with 34 points. The leading scorer for Roseville was Kobe Critchley with 16 points.