Next step for Vaughns: International basketball
Terrance Vaughns is a very talented, gifted and intelligent basketball player. He’s also never satisfied.
And while off the court, he’s very likeable, cordial and impressionable, no one can ever accuse Vaughns of being complacent.
As a high school player for Uniontown, Vaughns led the Red Raiders to two PIAA championship games and two WPIAL finals, and was named first team all-state as a senior.
As a collegiate player, Vaughns has already put himself in the Clarion University record book by nailing 61 of 128 3-point attempts during his freshman season for a single-season best percentage of 47.7.
Now, in an attempt to keep on improving his game, Vaughns is taking a shot at the international stage.
Vaughns was nominated by Clarion coach Ron Righter to play in the Can-Am Games for a team made up of underclassmen, mostly from the East coast. The squad will be playing eight games against opponents from different parts of the U.S. and Canada.
Running from July 5 to July 13, the games will be played in Toronto, Montreal and Ontario.
“Coach Righter said it will be a good experience and a chance to get some good exposure,” Vaughns said. “I’ll be playing against bigger and stronger players, so it should help me get ready for next year.”
Vaughns must raise some money, however, to make the trip. He’ll get a little help with his expenses, but not much, and needs about $1,000 (If interested in helping Vaughns, see info at the bottom of this column).
Vaughns is working this summer at a basketball camp at California University of Pa. and playing in a basketball league in Irwin with his uncle, Dana Vaughns.
“It’s a very competitive league with a lot of older players,” Vaughns said.
The 6-foot, 170-pound Vaughns averaged 10.4 points per game while quickly asserting himself as a starter for Clarion in his first year. The versatile guard even led the Golden Eagles in rebounding four different times.
Vaughns hit 62 of 69 free throws for 89.9 percent – a sparkling number for most, but a disappointment to Vaughns, who was one of the WPIAL’s all-time best foul shooters.
“I try to make at least 90 percent of my foul shots,” Vaughns said. “It’s like how they grade at Uniontown High School – 90 to 100 percent is an ‘A’ and I want to make an ‘A’ grade shooting fouls.”
Vaughns is hoping to help his team improve overall as well, even though Clarion was 19-10 this past season. Clarion was 18-5 at one point, but lost five of its last six games. Being on the Golden Eagles reminded him of playing for Uniontown in that they were very quick, but also very small.
“It was a lot like my freshman year at Uniontown,” Vaughns said. “We were very young and started quick, but then we faded. I don’t know what happened. We played good defense, but struggled on offense.”
Vaughns admitted, though, that setting the school 3-point shooting mark was a thrill.
“It was pretty amazing to break a record like that,” Vaughns said. “I never did anything like that before.”
In reality, Vaughns has already accomplished more than most basketball players from this area ever have.
But you can bet that won’t stop him from striving to get even better.
(Anyone who would like to help Vaughns in his Can-Am trip can reach him by phone at 724-433-4421 or through the mail at P.O. Box 401, Uniontown, Pa., 15401.)
Herald-Standard Day Managing Editor Mark O’Keefe contributed to this story.
Rob Burchianti is assistant sports editor of the Herald-Standard and can be reached online at rvburchianti@hotmail.com.