The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Breaking Barriers: The Duplantier Brothers' legacy in Baseball
02.27.2024 | Baseball
In the world of NCAA baseball, the University of Texas' baseball team accomplished a unique feat – one of the most diverse rosters in the sport. Amongst that diverse roster lays a pair of brothers – another unique feat. The journey of the Duplantier brothers, Andre and Jayden, from playing baseball in their backyard in Humble, Texas, to sharing the field for Texas Baseball, is a story of brotherhood, perseverance, and representation.
Their father also played a huge role in their upbringing and mindset. Both brothers talked about their father's guidance and the values instilled in them, but Andre reflected on a specific conversation that took place in his childhood, "Your job is to make sure your little brother and your mother are taken care of," a principle that has guided him through life and onto the baseball field.
But before sharing the field in Austin, the brothers frequented Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas to watch their older cousin Jon Duplantier (later went on to play for Rice and then MLB), who was the quarterback for Coach Lydell Wilson, and an exceptional baseball player for Coach Chad Payne. "We would go to Jon's games. And then once we were old enough to swing a bat and throw a ball. We started doing the same thing." said Jayden. In due time, the two brothers played one singular season of high school baseball together at Summer Creek High School in Humble, Texas. Andre, the oldest, was a senior, while Jayden, followed behind his brother's footsteps making varsity as a freshman. "Yeah, we got to play on the same team. So that was pretty big. But we've always gone to each other's games, so getting to play together in high school was pretty, pretty cool." Andre remarks.
The brothers both shared a love for their high school coach, DJ Wilson, Andre reminisced on his time playing for Coach Wilson, "It was fun. We got to achieve some some school history, like we hadn't been to a playoffs yet. In the next year, we went to the first round and then the second round. It was some good memories. I just learned I had a high school coach, that it didn't matter what the weather was outside, we're gonna play. So keeping that with me always just knowing that we're gonna compete today whether it's a hurricane outside or 120 degrees, but that's high school. In a nutshell, it was a fun competition." Jayden came in three years later with big shoes to fill, "At first, it was always cool even before I got to high school, I already kind of hung around a lot of my brother's friends and his teammates. So even coming in I just had a sense of comfort almost…I was just kind of like the little bro tagging along. But it was my first year, which was super fun. And we, like he said, made some history, we did some some pretty cool things with that team. It was super cool being just the young cat there. And the rest of the way I started to grow more into a leadership role because my freshman year we had tons of seniors…so high school was super fun. I had a coach that had really taught me a lot, taught my brother a lot."
Transitioning to Texas for the Duplantier brothers was not just a leap in their athletic careers but a venture into a new cultural and competitive landscape both on and off the field. The University of Texas, with its storied history and commitment to excellence, offered Andre and Jayden not only a platform to showcase their talents but also a chance to be part of a unique mosaic of diversity that Texas Baseball prides itself on.
The brothers' journey from the familiar confines of their backyard in Humble, to the sprawling campus in Austin speaks volumes of their adaptability, resilience, and unyielding pursuit of excellence. "The biggest thing here is winning. And there's a lot of tradition and a super deep fan base…if you look at the big leagues,you look up to teams that play in front of the best fans, and so we get to come to college and play in front of some of the best fans here. And again, even on the other side of the highway, you only have the best. You have a good academic system and that really matters because there's more to life than just baseball. So you can get a lot out of what goes on over here at Texas" said Jayden.
It's a good thing to have a lot of different personalities and kids of different backgrounds. It really brings us together..Jayden Duplantier
The significance of diversity on the roster cannot be overstated, as echoed in Jayden's insights, "We dove into some different things...about the team and how diverse it is and how cool. Even from last year's team, we had a super diverse team and then coming into this year, you know, it just brings a lot of different approaches to ball, a lot of different faces, and a lot of different personalities which I think really helps the team. And I don't think it happened by accident. It's a good thing to have a lot of different personalities and kids of different backgrounds. It really brings us together." He also talked a bit about what it means for him to serve as representation for other young Black kids, "It's a great feeling. It gives you a sense of pride. Knowing that you're playing for something bigger than just baseball really. There's a lot of things you can get out of going out there and doing what you do. Because you know you put a spotlight on a lot of people's faces when you're used to playing the game the right way and working hard and,not only do you teach yourself, but you can show somebody else the right way to do things."
The brothers also reflected on memories and milestones that have dotted their Texas Baseball experience, from clinching the Big 12 Championship to Jayden's collegiate debut. Such moments, enveloped in familial pride and communal support, emphasized the impact of their journey. "My favorite moment at Texas was probably celebrating the Big 12 championship in the locker room with teammates", said Andre. Jayden shared his favorite memory too, "My favorite memory I'm thinking when we went to Miami, or really just like the the whole trip honestly. Playoff baseball is super super fun. That was a good thing to experience as a freshman, and just how much fun we had. And now going into this year, I want to get back to that and get even further." Andre closed the sentiments with "I think it's a blessing. God has us here for a reason."
