Cedric J. Austin is a Sparkman High School 2006 graduate. While attending Sparkman, Cedric was a two-year basketball letterman where he received 2005 Huntsville Times Classic All-Tournament honors and was a member of the 2005 AHSAA Final Four Team. He also played football and was a one-year cross country letterman and state qualifier.

Austin received a basketball scholarship to attend Freed-Hardeman University. There he earned his Bachelor of Art degree in Art Humanities with a Business Marketing minor. Cedric was also a member of the Lions' 2009 & 2011 NAIA D1 National Tournament teams. As a senior, he received 1st Team All-TranSouth Conference honors.