Five-star Vaughn ends the process

Julian Vaughn told anyone that would listen in Las Vegas that he was getting close to making a decision. He wasn't kidding. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward from Reston, Va., verbally committed to an ACC school on Wednesday night.

Vaughn decided that Florida State University would be his future home after finishing his senior year at the famed Oak Hill Academy.

"I felt like Florida State could be my home away from home," Vaughn said. "The coaching staff is real nice and the facilities are really good, too. A lot of the Assault coaches (of his AAU club) said good things about coach (Leonard) Hamilton. They all say he is a good coach and I feel like I can get better when I get there."

Vaughn also considered Pitt, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Kentucky but had an inkling that he Florida State was where he wanted to go to during the final tournament of the summer in Los Angeles.

"I kind of knew that I wanted to do it when I was there. I wanted to get it over with," Vaughn said. "There was always 15 to 20 coaches watching me at my games and it was hard to always keep everyone happy. Now I don't have to. I can just focus on getting better and getting ready for Oak Hill."

The Seminoles have an immediate need at the power forward position and Vaughn said he is looking forward to stepping in right away to try to help the frontline.

"They said they lost a big man to the draft this year in Alexander Johnson and they are graduating some bigs this year so there is a chance I can start when I get there," Vaughn said. "That was real key. We are trying to sign a five so I can play the four full time.

The five-star forward said he is planning on official visit later in the fall but in the meantime, he is gearing up for the next step in his hoops career.

"I want to get a lot better in college and playing for someone that can get me to the next level NBA contacts that will help to," Vaughn said of Hamilton.

Vaughn is the first player to commit to FSU in the class of 2007.