Daily Inspiration: Meet DeAndré Austin

Today we’d like to introduce you to DeAndré Austin

Hi DeAndré, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m from Compton, where my mother and grandparents raised me. My mom, now retired, worked as a middle school P.E. teacher and later as a counselor for middle and high school students in Lynwood Unified School District. Growing up, gang violence and drug use were prevalent in my neighborhood, but despite the challenges, the sense of community was strong. Everyone knew each other due to longstanding family friendships in the area. Even in an unsafe environment, my friends and I did typical kid things—playing sports, riding bikes, shooting marbles, and racing one another in the middle of the street.

In the 4th grade, my mom got me involved in playing organized basketball to keep me busy and out of trouble. That’s when I met my 5th-grade coach, Jackie Myers, who saw potential in me and became my mentor. He dedicated his time to teaching me the fundamentals of the game, helping me grow as a player. By 6th grade, I was playing AAU travel basketball with Coach Myers, and basketball became a huge part of my life. I spent more time in the gym than in the neighborhood, though I still found time to hang out with my friends when I wasn’t traveling for games.

Former NBA Player and UCLA Great, Ed O’Bannon and I were also teammates on Coach Myers’s team—Ed was in 6th grade, and I was in 5th grade. We both grew as players under his mentorship, and this bond continued throughout our high school years.

Tragically, Coach Myers passed away the summer before my 9th-grade year, just two weeks after we returned from a national tournament in Bellevue, Washington, where we made it to the Final Four. We lost to a team from Detroit, Michigan, whose key players were Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, and I believe Voshon Lenard. Losing Coach Myers was heartbreaking. He had invested so much in us, teaching us discipline and structure, which shaped who I am today.

In 9th grade, I started attending Artesia High School in Lakewood, even though Compton High was my local school. Artesia offered a safer environment and was better for my basketball career. I was fortunate to play under Coach Wayne Merino, who instilled in us the values of dedication, desire, and discipline—the 3Ds. My teammate Ed O’Bannon was the #1 ranked player in the nation, and together, we achieved great success, winning a state championship, two southern section championships, and three league titles. I was a four-year varsity starter, and by the time I graduated, I had earned a full-ride basketball scholarship to Fresno State University.

After college, I played professional basketball in Latin America. In 2006, while playing in São Paulo Americana, Brazil, I vividly dreamed about a rat cartoon character dribbling a basketball, breaking through a full-court press of traps. I woke up, wrote down everything I saw, and titled it “Breaking the Trap.” Little did I know that this dream would eventually become the foundation for Gym Rat Squad—a production-ready animated series, an interactive comic book curriculum, and a youth character and team-building community outreach program under my nonprofit, Team GRS 501(c)3.

Through this journey, I’ve learned the importance of mentorship. My mom, family, and coaches kept me focused on basketball and education, steering me away from the dangers of gang life. Their guidance played a major role in shaping my path and bringing me to where I am today.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. In life, we all encounter some form of politics—there’s no avoiding it. After high school, I faced obstacles in basketball that left me feeling bitter at the time. While part of the blame was on me, when you’re young, you’re often naïve and optimistic, thinking that if you just work hard, everything will unfold as you planned.

What I’ve learned over the years is that God’s plan is far better than my own. As long as I continue to work hard and place my trust in our Heavenly Creator, I’ll be led in the right direction. The struggles we face are necessary because, without them, we don’t gain wisdom. That’s why having positive people and mentors around is so important—they help guide us through challenges and encourage us to stay on the right path instead of falling in with the wrong crowd.

For me, the biggest challenge was more mental than physical. I’ve always been a quiet person, believing that my work ethic and ability on the court would speak for itself. I had the mental toughness, but the politics didn’t always work in my favor. I realize now that there was a lot God wanted me to learn about myself. As I grew older and strengthened my faith, I began to understand the real antagonist in my life—it was my Flesh, my mind. Once I recognized that, I found peace and gained confidence in identifying my purpose in the universe.

This personal journey is why the title of Module 1 of Gym Rat Squad’s Interactive Comic Book is “The Road 2 Success.”

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a youth empowerment speaker and a former basketball player, now recognized for my animation project, Gym Rat Squad, and my nonprofit youth community outreach organization, Team GRS 501(c)3. Through Gym Rat Squad, I use animated characters and storylines to teach young people valuable life lessons through the fundamentals of basketball. The main character, Coach Gouda, guides his ragtag team of teenagers on how to “break the trap” both on and off the court. Their nemesis, Sylvester the Shady Rat, along with his boss, Madonna Cataloni (aka Mad Cat), adds layers of challenge and excitement to the story.

What I’m most proud of is the positive impact the storylines and interactive activities are having on young people’s lives. Hearing the feedback from educators and after-school program leaders has been incredibly rewarding. One of the unique strengths of the program is its adaptability and scalability—facilitators have the flexibility to teach Gym Rat Squad’s material in a way that resonates with their students and aligns with their teaching style.

As for what sets us apart, it’s hard to say because there are so many incredible people doing amazing work in the community. However, I believe one key distinction is that Gym Rat Squad seamlessly integrates with any program focused on character and team-building. Our curriculum can be easily incorporated into existing programs over a 5- to 8-week period, making it a versatile resource for schools, after-school programs, and youth organizations.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The COVID-19 crisis truly put the world on pause, and for me, that pause was both a blessing and a curse. The curse was the chaos and loss of life that so many experienced. However, the blessing came in the form of time—time to reassess and evaluate how I was navigating my journey.

During this period of reflection, I was able to observe the world changing around me and use that time to learn new information that would help me adapt to these changes. It allowed me to rethink my strategies and approach, ensuring that I could navigate my path more effectively in this new reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.teamgrs.org
• Instagram: @teamgrs and @gymratsquad
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.teamgrs.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/gymrat.squad/
• Twitter: @gymratsquad
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_P11IfMIIo

Image Credits
The photographer’s name is Taius Greenidge. The name of his company is Greenidge Films.