“When I was coaching basketball, I’d never sit down. Every ball is yours.’”Īubrey prefers to stand to watch Austin play, a habit he developed coaching the women’s basketball team at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham. “He was a bigger, stronger guy, so he could use that to his advantage. “He just stayed low,” Austin said of his dad’s rebounding prowess. “Heart and determination,” Aubrey said, explaining how a 6-foot-6 power forward outrebounded taller players. 22, 1994, Aubrey passed South Carolina’s Emmett Hall on his way to the conference rebounding crown.

With a career-high 18 rebounds against Southern Miss in Auburn’s home finale on Feb.

I had Wesley and I had Aaron Swinson, so I had to get the ball somehow.” “At the first of the season, I told my teammates, ‘I’m going to lead the SEC in rebounding,’” Aubrey recalled. “I’ve always been taught that the guard might not always pass it to you in the post so I might not get a certain amount of touches, so I’ve just got to go get it off the backboard,” said Austin, who averages 10.7 points per game.Īubrey Wiley taught his son that lesson having played with offensive-minded teammates Wesley Person and Aaron Swinson, who combined to put up 819 shots his senior year.īefore that ’93-94 season, Aubrey made a bold proclamation for a player who stood 6-6 and weighed 255 pounds. “I know rebounds are an important factor for my team to win, so I have to focus my game on that.”įor both Wileys, there’s also an element of practicality to rebounding, especially for post players in a game dominated by guards. “It’s a huge part of my game,” Austin said. At 9.2 rebounds per game, Austin ranks second in the SEC, behind Mississippi State’s Reggie Perry, who averages 10. Twenty-six years later, Austin hopes to emulate his father’s achievement. It’s a language father and son both speak fluently.Īs a senior in 1993-94, Aubrey led the SEC in rebounding, averaging 9.3 boards per game.

When Aubrey holds both hands above his head and grabs an imaginary basketball, the signal is silent but the message is loud and clear. If Austin’s in foul trouble, there’s a signal reminding his son to go up straight. Moving both hands downward means dunk the ball, instead of settling for a shot. Higher up, standing on the concourse, Aubrey sends additional non-verbal coaching reminders to his son. Keep it going,” says Austin, interpreting the gesture.

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