 "Photo: Bryant Haertlein, Daily Texan Staff")
A.J. Abrams’ decision to return to Texas for his senior year wasn’t all that complicated.
In fact, it wasn’t even made by him.
“The biggest selling point [for returning] was my mom saying, ‘A.J., you’re going back to school,’” Abrams said. “That pretty much does it for you. It’s a big deal to her to see me graduate, and I want both of my parents to see me do that.”
The guard entertained the idea of declaring for the NBA draft by working out for pro teams this spring, but maintained his eligibility by not signing with an agent.
While he didn’t go down the same early-exit route as point guard D.J. Augustin, the experience taught Abrams what he needed to improve on to have a chance to play at the next level.
“It was a great learning process for me. I learned a lot of things as far as what the NBA people want to see me do on the floor and that’s just to be more of a floor general,” he said. “They know I can score. It’s just coming down and being a leader on the floor.”
He’ll get his first chance to prove that tonight as the No. 7 Longhorns open the season against Stetson at the Frank Erwin Center.
With Augustin out of the picture, the 5-foot-11-inch Abrams finds himself as the leader of a “point guard by committee” that includes Justin Mason and Dogus Balbay.
He has made a name for himself as a 3-point shooter, but those outside of Texas don’t know him as much else. Now, he’s looking to put any doubts about his ability to run an offense to rest.
“People kind of don’t think I can pass, but I was in the position where I was counted on to shoot threes,” Abrams said. “Now that I’m in the position where I can create for my teammates and get them easy buckets, I’m all for it.”
Even the team’s lone freshman, Varez Ward, was surprised when he first saw Abrams dishing the ball.
“A.J.s’ really a pass-first kind of guy,” he said. “I didn’t know that.”
Abrams’ passing ability has never been in question by Texas coach Rick Barnes. While most wonder if there are more sides to his game, Barnes praises his well-roundedness.
“A.J. Abrams has proven that he can be a threat, and he’s good with the ball in his hands. He’s as good as we’ve ever had at reading defenses and moving without the basketball,” Barnes said. “He’s a really good playmaker. He’s good with the ball and has excellent vision.”
But that’s not to say Abrams won’t be pulling the trigger. On a deep team that features Damion James, Mason and Connor Atchley, Barnes still figures that Abrams will lead the Longhorns in scoring. Last season, Abrams averaged 16.5 points per game, trailing only Augustin, and is the Big 12’s top returning scorer. He also made 118 of 309 3-point attempts and led the team from the free-throw line, shooting 80.9 percent.
“People don’t want to foul him. At the NCAA tournament, they wouldn’t touch him because he’s a guy that likes being there in that situation,” Barnes said. “That will be a key at the end of the game. That’s who will be on the floor, the guy who can make those free throws.”
For Abrams and the Longhorns, the 2008-09 season is about proving they belong at the top of the heap. With a loaded roster of experienced players, Texas was ranked seventh by The Associated Press and picked to finish second in the Big 12 by the league’s coaches.
If the Longhorns can get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2002-03, Abrams will have had a big hand in it.
And a Final Four appearance wouldn’t hurt his draft stock next spring, either.
“If I can get there [to the NBA] that would be great,” Abrams said. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. It sounds kind of cliche, but that’s what you have to do.”
