ESPN Article
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/on-the-trail/post?id=7758&ex_cid=espnapi_public
Shooting guard Rashad Vaughn (Golden Valley, Minn./Findlay College Prep), the No. 17 player in the ESPN 100, is being hotly pursued by several programs. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound prospect already has made two official visits (to Iowa State and UNLV) and recently set up a visit to North Carolina for Feb. 15, when the Tar Heels play Pittsburgh. For his final two visits, he is likely to choose among Arizona, Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky and Minnesota.
Let's break down the game of one of the top shooting guards in the country:
Where he is today: Vaughn decided to spend his senior season at Findlay Prep to work on his game. "It's just school and basketball here. The schedule of games and the competition in practice is very challenging, and that's why I came here so I can focus on my game," Vaughn said.
Rashad Vaughn
Point guard
2014
Uncommitted: List
Pos Rk Stars Grade Hometown
2
93 Golden Valley, MN
The Minnesota native has always been known as an elite scoring guard blessed with ball skills and a long-distance shooting touch. For all his star qualities, at times he did not understand shot selection, decision-making and defense as well as fitting in with his teammates. He is making corrections in his game in those areas and gives a lot of credit to Findlay Prep coach Jerome Williams, who played at Georgetown and in the NBA.
"Coach Williams really relates to the players and has helped me quite a bit. Also, my mentor, Pete Kaffey, is working with me on improving my game," Vaughn said.
With room to grow, he must continue to make the necessary changes in his practice habits and game performance.
Biggest change: Vaughn's DNA has always been that of a scorer, as he is hungry and aggressive. So far this season, he is averaging close to six assists per game, making unselfish plays. Evaluating him over the years, you could see he could pass the ball and has good vision, but was unwilling to give it up. Now that mindset is changing, and when he is in ball-screen action or driving to the basket, he now is looking to create for both himself and others. He is playing with more of a team concept while staying in attack mode, a big and important quality for him to maximize his potential.
Wired to score: Although he is mindful of the areas he needs to improve on, he also knows that his primary job is the get buckets. Vaughn is shooting 3-pointers with confidence and connecting with regularity. When his shot is not falling, he is comfortable at driving and taking a hit and finishing with body control.
Part of being a truly great scorer is getting 25 percent of your points from the free-throw line, and Vaughn is a good free-throw shooter. He just needs to make sure he gets his share of attempts. Now he is incorporating a pull-up jumper and trying to be better at creating space and beating his defender with a jab step.
Starting to get defensive: He is trying to guard his man with more alertness and is sometimes taking on the challenge of covering the other team's best offensive player.
His biggest growth has come in guarding the ball and not allowing his man to beat him off the dribble. Chasing other shooters off of screening action will be an adjustment, but it is a defensive concept he needs to learn now before he enters the college game. He is also learning to what it means to play defense on a consistent basis off the ball as he must not lose his man and play the ball at the same time. To finish a good defensive possession, Vaughn should always be in his defensive stance the whole time if he truly wants to be a good defender. Finally, he must learn what it means to finish the possession with a rebound.
