Perhaps the Augustus definition of “official scorekeeper” is different than any other.
Kim Augustus, mother of LSU sophomore Seimone Augustus, has managed to keep updated statistics on her daughter since she was 10 years old.
“I just started doing it,” Kim Augustus said. “I just started doing it to have records for myself.”
When Seimone beginning to take part in AAU leagues at about 10 years old, Kim began to keep records of her daughter’s accomplishments on the court. However, Kim said some stats are too complicated to keep.
“I keep the score, the fouls and rebounds,” Kim Augustus said. “I can’t keep up with the assists though.”
Seimone said her mother began keeping the stats at such a young age because no one else was doing it.
“It really started in middle school,” Seimone said. “You don’t have an official stat keeper, so she was always the stat keeper.”
Seimone added that her mother continued keeping stats for her own benefit.
“After I graduated and went on to high school, she just constantly kept stats on her own for her own keepsake,” Seimone said.
Although official stats began when Seimone started playing at Baton Rouge’s Capitol High School, Kim continued keeping her own stats.
“I told her ‘you don’t have to keep stats, we have official stat keepers,'” Seimone said. “That’s just something she’s been doing for years and I think she’s going to continue to do.”
After keeping stats for close to 10 years, Kim has certainly had her fair share of interesting experiences.
Kim said after an AAU game, she was unaware of the fact Seimone had broken an AAU record in points scored in a game.
“I had to get my stat book back out and go ahead and sit down and tally it all up,” Kim said. “That was the one game that I didn’t tally up.”
Although Kim is not the official scorekeeper, she said she is always correct in keeping the stats.
“I have [the stats] right,” Kim said. “On Saturday night [against Texas], they had Seimone at 14 points, but I was like ‘no, she only has 13 points,’ because I had it in my book.”
Kim’s stat book truly came to light during the Georgia game on
Monday, when ESPN featured Kim and her stat book.
Coach Dana “Pokey” Chatman said nobody has ever really made an issue of it before.
“It is so private and so personal to them that it has never been a point of emphasis here,” Chatman said. “I think I realized it when I went back and watched the [Georgia] game.”
Chatman added Kim continues to keep the stat book because she has become accustomed to doing it.
“It’s not anything for show,” Chatman said. “It’s just something she’s always done. It’s more of a habit.”
While Kim is able to attend the majority of her daughter’s games, she said she keeps the stats even when she is not able to be with Seimone.
“I normally make all the games,” Kim said. “Even when I don’t make the games, I keep the stats on the radio. But I only keep up with my fouls and my points.”
And while Seimone will continue to play basketball after her time at LSU, Kim said she will always keep her daughter’s stats.
“I’m going to retire when Seimone stops playing ball,” Kim said.
With nearly 10 years of keeping Seimone’s stats under her belt, Kim now has the chance to take her stat book to New Orleans, where Seimone and the Lady Tigers will play in their first ever Final Four.
“I don’t have the words to describe it,” Kim said. “It’s unbelievable. We’re just so proud of Seimone.”