Ladue's Austin DaGue: Patch's MVP of the Winter Season

At the tender age of 5, Ladue’s Austin DaGue already knew he wanted to be a basketball player. As a student entering Ladue's Reed School, he played in the basketball league in the Olivette Athletic Association. Seeking a more competitive field, he soon transferred over to the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club program in North City.

“I faced many of the guys I have been playing against the past few years. Foye Oluokun (Burroughs), Zeke Elliott (Burroughs), Nolan Berry (DeSmet), his teammate Cornell Johnson were all there.”

DaGue was taller than most in the first grade, and has since grown into the center position at 6-foot-9 (in my shoes) but a slim 180 or so pounds.

DaGue had three really good years at Ladue, he was a main figure in their 21-6 finish this year, and for that, he is the 2013 Ladue-Frontenac-Olivette Male Athlete of the Winter.

Coach is his biggest fan

His coach Chad Anderson couldn’t agree more with that selection.

“Austin is a great leader, smart player and is very fundamentally sound as a player. His presence in the post on both ends of the floor will be missed in our program,” said Anderson. “He is a very mature young man with a lot of potential on and off the court. It was a pleasure to coach him for the last three years,” said Anderson.

Few know, but DaGue’s main sport was baseball until the 9th grade.

Naturally tall, he was a first baseman, but did some pitching, playing some third base and the outfield.

“I hurt my elbow. They talked some about Tommy John surgery, and I said that’s enough of that.”

Academics come first

Foremost, he’s a student first/athlete second.

His ACT scores are very high. He took one advanced placement coach his sophomore year, and three each his junior and senior year.

Originally, he planned to play basketball at M.I.T., but switched this winter to Emory in Atlanta.

“M.I.T. is academically superior to most schools. But I found the players were very stressed over their academic (loads) and I just felt I wouldn’t fit in there socially, and not where I wanted to spend my next four years.”

Washington University got close consideration. “I really liked their coaches. They were great. I get one paid trip back to St. Louis each year when we play the Bears,” he figured.

DaGue has designs on the the rest of his life. He plans on playing professionally in Europe or somewhere overseas if the opportunity occurs.

“My dad says ‘you will be behind a desk (in school) the next four years. After that, you ought to go out and have some fun and do some traveling,’”

DaGue likes that notion.

A Ram forever

He is proud to have played for Ladue and will forever be a “Ram.”

“I’ve had a very rewarding career. Just getting to know all the guys on the team was a lot of fun,” he said.

DaGue has no illusions of dominating college players.

Seems that Emory plays a post-trail-post system with one big on the blocks and one big further out. “I think I’ve got a pretty good mid-range shot.”  My job is to develop a three-point shot now,” he said.

He know he has to get stronger. He’s planning to be in the weight room with the Ladue football team this spring.

DaGue loved the opportunity to play all those games in the post for Ladue. “I  knew every night out I was the tallest player on the court, and I knew I was never the heaviest.”

He claims referees know little of all the battles that go on inside the lane, all the pushing, shoving and trash talking. “That’s the part of the game I relish the most,” he said.

DaGue has tons of upside potential heading to Atlanta. He will get bigger and stronger and he’s already very bright and knows the game inside out.

He richly deserves recognition as Patch’s MVP of the season.

Wednesday, Patch presents the female MVP of the winter.