Riding The Success Superhighway

Women's Basketball, Feb 2005 by Steidl, Kurt

LSU junior star Seimone Augustus is a talent both on and off the court.

One day, Louisiana State University junior guard Seimone Augustus hopes to own a clothing store.

Not just any clothing store. The Baton Rouge, La. native plans to sell clothing she herself designed.

"I want to be able to market my own store and myself," said Augustus, who likes the purple-dominated uniforms the Lady Tigers wear. "I like loud colors."

The impetus for her studies came from what, for some, can be an obsession.

"I like to go shopping and I like shoes and clothes and stuff like that," she said, so she figured that, "If I can buy them, maybe I can make them."

To this point, Augustus, a fashion design major, does not have a lot of design experience, but her one product was of major importance to a young woman.

"The only piece I've designed was a prom . dress that I had made," said Augustus, a 2004 WBCA Kodak All-American and a finalist for the 2004 Naismith and Wooden Women's player of the year awards.

And, to add icing to the cake, Augustus will be motoring around her future business empire in a classic Chevrolet Impala.

"My uncle has either a 1968 or 1969 (Impala) convertible that I just love," said Augustus, a classic car aficionado who herself owns a 1995 Impala. She would like some day to own a multitude of older Impalas.

Until then, and perhaps even beyond then, Augustus might be seen learning the intricacies and nuances of competitive activities other than basketball.

"Whenever I'm away from practice, I like to play video games and Playstation," said Augustus, who began her Playstation days about three years ago.

"I don't know if I'm good enough to compete against other people," she added. "I just like to play anything that is competitive. If I'm not competing against somebody, then I might as well play something that I can enjoy."

Augustus, a junior, was busy even before the mid-October beginning of practice as she continued her studies at LSU.

"I've been working on strength and conditioning and being able to take a hit and the defensive schemes the other teams will throw at us," said Augustus, who helped lead LSU to the Final Four last year as a sophomore.

Apparently, she is making progress.

"Seimone's biggest improvements can be seen in her physical development, which is a byproduct of the time she's put into her weight workouts," LSU coach Pokey Chatman said.

That's not the only improvement the former LSU player turned coach has seen in her star player, who is eying a national title.

"Also, I see her becoming more of a vocal leader with the team," Chatman said, "not just as it relates to practice or game nights, but the entire program."

There are other areas in which she has improved, Augustus said.

"I've become a better player mentally," she said. "Instead of using only my physical ability, I just think more out there."

All that work Augustus has put herself through has translated into more than a few accolades as one of the best among women's college basketball players.

"Obviously, she understands the game and is a great 'motion' player. She's improved her defense every year, and she's becoming more vocal," Chatman said. "But her ability to 'finish' in traffic is second to none. She's the total package."