State's Austin flip-flops - again; will stay in school

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - Mississippi State forward Mario Austin has hauled his stuff from Starkville to his hometown of York, Ala., and back - all in the last month. <br> <br> Austin, who first said he was staying in school and then said he was turning pro, has changed his mind again. He will return to school for his junior season instead of entering the NBA draft. <br> <br> ``I&#39;m not moving again,&#39;&#39; the sophomore said. <br> <br> Austin announced his decision Monday at a news conference with Bulldogs coach Rick Stansbury. <br> <br> ``It was best for me and my mom...to return to Mississippi State for my junior season,&#39;&#39; Austin said. <br> <br> Austin&#39;s mother, Deborah, has been in and out of the hospital with a heart ailment for the past year. <br> <br> Speaking from her home in York, she said she was happy with her son&#39;s decision to remain at the university. <br> <br> ``Yes, that&#39;s what I wanted all along,&#39;&#39; she said. <br> <br> Deborah Austin, 36, had heart surgery in 1996 and she has struggled to stay healthy ever since, Mario Austin said. <br> <br> Last season, there were times when his mother would get out of the hospital and the next day make the 45-minute drive to Starkville to watch her son play, Mario Austin said. <br> <br> ``It has been real tough for me,&#39;&#39; he said. ``Making the decision to leave and then coming back, it says a lot for me. I think people think I really turned my back on (Mississippi State).&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Immediately after the Bulldogs were beaten in the NCAA tournament by Texas, Austin said he intended to play college basketball for another year. <br> <br> He reiterated that intention a week later. <br> <br> A week after that he decided to try the NBA draft, but left the door open for a return to school by not hiring an agent. <br> <br> Austin said his mother&#39;s sickness made the decision difficult. <br> <br> ``My mom has always wanted to see me play pro ball,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> But after doing more research, speaking with his coaches and having his mother speak with representatives from the NBA, Austin said he realized it was best for him to stay in school. <br> <br> Stansbury said he told Austin to make a ``selfish&#39;&#39; decision. <br> <br> ``Mario owes Mississippi State, myself, his team and alumni nothing,&#39;&#39; Stansbury said. ``The decision he needs to make is what&#39;s best for him and his mother.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> But the coach added, ``Was I happy he came to that decision? Yes, sir.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The 6-foot-9 Austin averaged 16.1 points and 7.6 rebounds, both team highs. He led the Bulldogs to the Southeastern Conference tournament championship and was tournament MVP. <br> <br> At 255 pounds, Austin is bullish in the low post, but at his height he&#39;ll need to develop skills away from the basket to play in the NBA, Stansbury said. <br> <br> ``I hope this time next year he&#39;s a lottery pick,&#39;&#39; Stansbury said. <br> <br> Mississippi State (27-8) earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and set a school record for victories last season. <br> <br> Austin&#39;s return makes the Bulldogs one of the favorites in the SEC next season. They return eight of their 10 top scorers and three starters back from last season&#39;s club. <br> <br> While Austin finally put the question of where he&#39;ll play next season to rest, he made no guarantees either way on what he will do beyond 2000-2003.