August Blossoms Into Major Star

Andrew August, a 2008 graduate, was looking for a new start after two highly successful seasons playing basketball at Division II Felician College.

After a coaching change at Felician, August recalled the preseason scrimmages his team had with a college not to far from Felician, Montclair State.

With a quick phone call to longtime Red Hawks coach Ted Fiore, August was on his way to Montclair.

“Montclair’s campus is amazing, they have a nice gym, facilities are nice and it’s a great academic fit,” August said. “I wanted to stay close to home so my family and friends could see me play.”

It didn’t take long for August to make his mark on the Division III program and the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

After a sensational junior year—August started all 28 games he played in and averaged 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds—August is playing even better this season. He was named to the NABC Regional All-District Second Team last season and also to the D3Hoops.com Atlantic Region Second Team.

Through the team’s first 12 games—the Red Hawks are 9-3 overall—August is averaging a double-double, 20.0 points a game and 10.1 rebounds a game. The team, which went 20-8 last year and 8-5 in the NJAC and lost in the conference title game, is 1-1 in the NJAC thus far.

“I had a good summer working out,” August said of his strong start. “I’m trying to push myself hard everyday, and also I've got to congratulate my teammates out there. It’s not just me out there, and they are contributing and helping me.”

With just three other seniors on the team [along with forwards Brendan Holland and Ken Spooner, and center Andre Jarvis], August knew he had to take his game to a new level this year after catching the NJAC by storm last year. So to that, he adjusted his game and worked on improving his shooting and overall skills.

“Last year, I came into the NJAC and I was the new guy, the transfer, so they didn’t really know about me,” August said. “They didn’t how to play me, but then this year they are now bringing two to three guys down to double-team me."

“My coach told me after last season if I want to become a better all-around player, I need to learn how to shoot a jump shot," he added. "What I did most was improve my shooting and go to the gym everyday in the summertime, and put up shots and work out.”

With a younger team this year, August knows the key for the team will be learning how to close out conference games down the stretch. The team recently lost a conference game to power Richard Stockton by just three points, 72-69.

“The NJAC is a really tough conference,” August said. “On any given night, any team can beat anybody. The key we have to focus on is just basketball IQ."

“We are young and the guys are coming out of high school and some are transfers," he added. "The key in crunch time, because most of the conference games come down to the last two minutes, is making the right play and handling the pressure because they have some great guards in the NJAC.”

August speaks from experience because he went through it last year being a newcomer to the team. The Red Hawks had a great season and made it to the NJAC Tourney, losing to New Jersey City College, 72-67, on the Gothic Knights’ home court.

“We have a great chance of winning the NJAC and making the NCAA tournament this year,” August said. “Last year’s team, we had the seniors and knew how to handle the pressure. We’re only two games into our conference season and it’s a constant learning process.”

August knows this is his last season playing collegiate basketball and he’s all in trying to lead the Red Hawks to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since he 2002-2003 season. He played some summer league ball in Puerto Rico and his future in the game is limitless, but he’s focused on this season first and foremost.

“I want to finish with a great season and leave it all on the court,” he said. “If it’s a game that day or a two- to three-hour practice, I focus on the task at hand for that day and move on to the next game or practice. This is my last hurrah and I’m going to try my best.”