Augie Johnston is a 26 year old 185cm guard from Atascadero, Calfornia. He played at Cal.St.-Monterey (NCAA2) and his infinite range has proven he was one of the best shooters in the country. Although he is a prolific shooter, it is his overall ability to score the basketball and defend the opponent’s best player that is so impressive. He is one of the most professional and hard working players. As a captain at Cal State Monterey Bay he has shown to have all the leadership qualities you would want in a point guard or shooting guard. He started his professional basketball career in 2009-2010 for Velbert Baskets (Germany-2.Regionalliga), playing 9 games: 28.4ppg. Last season, he played for SpVgg Rattelsdorf Independents (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 25 games: 29.8ppg . This season, he is playing his second season for  SC Rist Wedel and helped bring the team into the playoffs against Nordlingen last season and Fraport Skyliners juniors this season. Last season he played 27 games: 15.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 4.0apg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 77.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the start of the PRO B playoff series against Weissenhorn.

Congrats again on sweeping the Fraport Skyliners juniors. What was the most important quality that SC Rist Wedel composed in the two game series?

I think it was our execution and discipline on offense and our commitment to following our defensive rules. On the offensive end we shot a good percentage and had really balanced scoring especially in the second game when Davey Hopkins had 19 points, I had 18, and Marvin Boadu had 16.

There were five games this season for SC Rist Wedel that were decided by four or less points and you lost only one of those games. Where would you rate the dramatic of the win in Frankfurt with the other nail bitters?

Actually it was one of the less exciting ones. We had the lead the entire game against Frankfurt and in the end we were up by about 5 points with a minute or so left. They started fouling to send us to the free throw line and we missed one or two and they hit some threes so we only ended up winning by one point. In other close games we have had we have trailed the entire game and turned up the pressure in the 4th quarter and stolen a few games that way and those ones were much more exciting in my opinion.

How happy are you too have a guy like Tobias Lange on the team? He seems to be the guy that comes to work and does his job and goes home again, but is a very important role player.

We are very lucky to have Tobi. He is relentless worker in practice, never talks back to the coach, and steps up in big games. He has improved each month this season and I see him being a full time starter on some team in the Pro B very soon. It seems like whenever one of our starting bigs gets in foul trouble and Tobi plays big minutes he does well. I look forward to following him and his career.

The next opponent are the Weissenhorn Youngers. From one Beko BBL farm team to the next. How excited are you playing against the farm team of top beko BBL team ratiopharm Ulm?

I’m excited, but not so much because they are a farm team and more so because I get to play against my friend and ex-Wedeler Kay Guasa.

How happy that in game one, Weissenhorn have to make the 700 kilometer trip to Rist. That is like driving from Atascadero to San Francisco and back? What is always most important on long road trips and playing that day?

Oh man, I now understand how important home court advantage is. The first game is the most important one. On long road trips it’s always important to eat healthy food and drink a lot of water. Also, if you have a sleeper bus make sure you face the right way. I learned that the hard way and got sick before the game to BSW Sixers. I threw up 5 minutes before the game started from car sickness.

How excited are you about playing against young German Til Joscha Joenke. He has been compared to Per Guenther.

I played against him last season when he played for Leverkusen, but he is a totally different player now it seems. He dominated the ProB South this season so I am excited to see how much he has improved and I’m excited to see if I can shut him down.

How have you enjoyed the German Easter in Germany. How is it different than in the States?

Well, in the states we eat ham on Easter and I think that’s different but other than that it’s the same.

How surprised were you that Indiana bowed out and can Wichita State make the Final 4?

I was shocked, it really messed up my bracket.

What is the last DVD movie that you saw?

Old School!

Thanks Augie for the chat.