2007s Vaughn reeling in the offers

If you haven't figured it out yet, Julian Vaughn will be one of the most recruited players in the class of 2007. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward from South Lakes High School in Reston, Va., has the total package that coaches look for and his offer sheet seems to grow by the day.

After a strong summer with the loaded D.C. Assault summer program, the versatile big man received a number of scholarship offers from some of the top programs in the country.

The ACC has certainly caught onto just how good Vaughn is. He's holding offers from Boston College, Clemson, Maryland, Miami, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Kansas, Michigan, Notre Dame, Illinois and Ohio State have also tendered a free ride. Vaughn said he still can't believe he's holding a baker's dozen of offers.

"I'm taking it in stride and trying to absorb it all in," Vaughn said. "I never thought this would happen to me this quick. It's all so new. I used to get questionnaires but now it's a lot more serious. That's why I'm not ready to eliminate anybody yet. I figure I'll cut down my list next AAU season and start sorting it all out then."

If he waits that long, he'll be sorting out conferences instead of teams. The interest continues to grow. Perhaps visits will be telling on which direction he's leaning.

Vaughn said he has tentative plans to unofficially visit Maryland, NC State, North Carolina and Wake Forest in September for some football games. Still early in the process, Vaughn said he's in no rush and no one has really climbed to the top of his list.

"Everybody is in the same boat so it's hard to say who's really recruiting me the hardest," Vaughn said. "Some text me, some send mail, some call and some email. It's all pretty balanced."

His game is pretty balanced, too. Vaughn is a difficult player to defend because he extends his offense to the three-point line and shoots a high percentage shot from deep. But because of his size, the No. 12 ranked player in the class of 2007, does a great job of getting into position and making things happen inside the paint. He's a good passer and knows how to find his shooters and cutting wings. Vaughn said he's still a work in progress.

"I've gotten a lot better. I'm always working on that. My coach told me that he'd like to have me be the primary ball-handler so I've been working on that all summer long," Vaughn said. "That and my endurance. Plus, I've dropped 10 pounds so now I feel like I'm jumping a little higher and running a little faster.

"It's getting pretty crazy," Vaughn says. "I knew I can play but I can do way better. If the coaches like me know…"

Just wait. And if you are a high-major program, just get in line. He's going to be a must get guy in 2007.