WALTHAM — Former Notre Dame forward Zach Auguste, a Marlborough native, is a longtime Celtics fan, and his connection goes deeper than just watching games on television. Auguste said that former Celtics guard and Holy Cross great Togo Palazzi, 83, has been his mentor since he attended Palazzi’s camp as a 7-year-old.
Auguste, who completed a predraft workout with the Celtics on Wednesday, said Palazzi remains an invaluable resource.
“It’s been amazing,” Auguste said. “Nonstop, we’ve both been in contact. He’s always believed in me, he’s always given me encouragement, and he’s definitely been a great mentor for me. He’s always telling me what I should do, how I should do, and he’s always given it to me straight. He has a little backbone to him.”
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Palazzi was selected by the Celtics with the fifth pick of the 1954 draft. He averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game during his three seasons in Boston. Auguste said he was looking forward to calling Palazzi and telling him about this workout, already his 14th of this spring.
Auguste continues to lean on the advice that his mentor shared.
“Leave everything you have on the floor,” Auguste said. “Don’t fall with the tendency of trying to showcase too much. Do strictly what you do and what you do well and what got you here.”
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach