AUSTIN - The Texas Longhorns are waiting.
Waiting to see if they could be next season's No. 1. Waiting to see if they'll have to find a new floor leader.
They're waiting for sophomore All-American point guard D.J. Augustin to make up his mind: Will he stay in college for another season or bolt for the NBA?
Augustin, however, seems in no hurry to make up his mind.
"I'm still evaluating," he said at Monday night's team banquet. "I'm going to be taking my time."
He has until April 27 to submit his name, but if he doesn't hire an agent, he could still change his mind and pull out of the draft. If he signs with an agent, he'll lose his college eligibility.
Augustin averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 assists in leading Texas to one of the best seasons in school history. The Longhorns won a school-record 31 games, a share of the Big 12 regular season championship and advanced to the NCAA regional finals before losing to Memphis. Augustin won the Bob Cousy Award as college basketball's top point guard.
If he leaves, Augustin will join an impressive lineup of former Longhorns who departed early for the NBA over the past five years: T.J. Ford, Daniel Gibson, LaMarcus Aldridge, P.J. Tucker and Kevin Durant.
If he returns, Texas is likely among the handful of teams that would be seriously considered for preseason No. 1 and a favorite to win next season's national championship. Texas would return all five starters and all top bench players. It's a similar scenario to 2003, when Ford had to make up his mind after leading Texas to the Final Four.
Back then, Ford chose the NBA. Texas made it to the round of 16 the first season without him, but hasn't made it back to the Final Four.
"I'm not sure what he's thinking," said guard Justin Mason, who was Augustin's roommate on the road and is as close to him as anyone on the team. "If he came back, that would be good for us."
But chasing a championship doesn't come with any guarantees. The NBA does offer guaranteed contracts.
Augustin, overshadowed by Durant as a freshman, made Texas his team this season, morphing from a great passer to a solid scorer as well. His NBA future is tougher to read than Durant, who probably would have been a top pick out of high school if NBA rules had allowed it. Durant was the No. 2 pick overall last year, making it an easy choice to leave.
Augustin didn't seem concerned about who might be picked ahead of him.
"There's good players in the draft every year," Augustin said. "I've just got to make the best decision for myself."
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