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Like father, like son Austin Ainge heading to Brigham Young
Posted: Saturday November 20, 1999 02:28 PM
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Austin Ainge, the son of Phoenix Suns coach and former BYU standout Danny Ainge, will follow his father's footsteps to play for the Cougars. The school announced Wednesday that Austin Ainge, a 6-foot-1 point guard, signed a national letter-of-intent to play at BYU, where his father was a standout guard from 1978-81. Austin Ainge averaged 17 points, six rebounds and five assists a game last season as a junior at Highland High School in Gilbert, Ariz. He plans to serve a two-year Mormon Church mission before playing. "Austin has a total understanding of the game and the unique ability to distribute the ball to teammates when they are ready to score, rather than just when they are open," said BYU coach Steve Cleveland. The younger Ainge is part of a recruiting class the school heralded as one of its best ever. Cleveland also signed 6-9 forward Jesse Pinegar and 6-11 center Derek Dawes, two of the top-rated players in the Salt Lake City area, as well as 6-9 forward Jacob Chrisman of Provo High and 6-6 guard-forward Travis Hansen, a transfer from Utah Valley State College. "As a result of LDS Church missions, these players will represent different recruiting classes," Cleveland said. "Regardless of when they actually play, each will have a significant impact on the program." As a senior in 1981, Danny Ainge won the Wooden Award as the nation's top college basketball player. Other finalists that year included Isiah Thomas of Indiana, Sam Bowie of Kentucky, Mark Aguirre of DePaul and Ralph Sampson of Virginia. Ainge is probably best remembered for his layup at the buzzer to beat Notre Dame in the 1981 NCAA tournament. He holds BYU career records with 2,467 points and 539 assists. After four seasons playing baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays, Ainge joined the Boston Celtics and played on NBA championship teams in 1984 and 1986. He later reached the NBA finals with Portland and Phoenix.
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