2015 NBA Draft: Rashad Vaughn (SG; Fr; UNLV)

by Kyle Ratke

Web Editor 

@Kyle_Ratke

Posted: May 15, 2015

Freshman, SG, UNLV

6’5", 198.6 LBS

6.2 % Body Fat

6’7" Wing Span

8’5" Standing Reach

College Stats:

23 games, 32.3 MPG, 17.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 43.9 FG%, 38.3 3P%, 69.4 FT%

Where He’ll Go:

Most draft experts have him going early in the second round, but don’t be surprised if a contender takes a late first-round flier on Vaughn in hopes of developing him into their starting shooting guard. Remember, Vaughn is just 18 years old.

Best Game In 2014-15:

In a 79-77 overtime win over Utah State, Vaughn finished with a season-high 31 points. To put that into perspective, only two other UNLV players scored more than eight points. Vaughn was UNLV’s offense in this game. He shot 10-of-24 from the field, 4-of-11 from the three-point line and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. He also added nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.

This has been a long wait for Vaughn.

He's only 18, so not really that long, but the NBA is something that he thought was possible as early as sixth or seventh grade. When most kids hadn’t even thought about what the future might hold, Vaughn had a pretty good idea. And he was spot on, just like his jump shot.

There he was at the first day of media availability at the Combine, telling reporters his strengths, trying to hide his weaknesses… All with a smile on his face.

He, along with Duke’s Tyus Jones, are two Minnesota kids that the state is watching closely. Vaughn, a product of Robbinsdale-Cooper, can shoot, but his goal is to show teams he can do more.

“I think a lot of people look at me as a shooter,” Vaughn said. “I feel like I can do a lot more things. I can score the ball from all three levels. I can play on and off the ball. I can make plays for my teammates.”

That leads us into Vaughn’s strengths.

He’s an above-average shooter. He nearly shot 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep as a 19 year old. He’ll have to adjust to the NBA three, but when watching him, it’s obvious he has a knack for scoring.

Vaughn said he watches film on guys like Bradley Beal, Dwyane Wade, DeMar DeRozan and even dinosaurs like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. He doesn’t emulate his game after one player, but tries to pick things up along the way. That’s probably the way to go about it.

“I don’t really model my game after one person… I try to watch all the great two-guards and just take the stuff from their game,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn does have the ability to shoot from most spots on the floor, but sometimes his shot selection is a bit suspect.

He’s not a great passer, but that’s pretty common for a shooting guard at his age.

He’s a good rebounder and hauled in nearly five per game. Rebounding generally translates well to the next level.

Now, for things he can improve on.

Vaughn is a smart team defender and generally is in the right spot, but he sometimes gets lost when his man has the ball. He struggles to get through/around screens and sometimes puts his hands down on defense, allowing the player he’s guarding to throw a pass over his head. He’s not going to be a lockdown perimeter defender, but he’ll need to be better than he was during his freshman year.

His ball handling isn’t the best, which isn’t a huge concern. Andrew Wiggins had trouble his with ball handling going into the year and it wasn’t really an issue for him.

“It’s something I’ve got to show,” Vaughn said on his ball handling. “But I’ve always go to show I am a shooter because I know the NBA loves shooters.”

He isn’t the fastest guy, but that actually benefits him in a weird way and forces him to get creative with how he scores.

It really depends on what is asked of Vaughn with his new team. Early on, he’s probably best as a player coming off the bench to give the second unit scoring, but he could develop into a special player – though it won’t happen right away.

“Vaughn is very interesting,” ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla said. “Because he’ll be one of the younger players in this draft and at 6’5″, and coming off what seemed to be a successful first season at UNLV until he hurt his knee.”

Vaughn underwent a knee surgery on his left knee in February, but that injury isn't expected to be a concern. Fraschilla thinks Vaughn could be an option for the Golden State Warriors at No. 30. As if they need more scoring…

The Wolves met with Vaughn at the Combine. He said the meeting went well and that he remembered Flip Saunders from his first stint with the Wolves. He’s also met with Charlotte, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Orlando.

Quotable

“Man, that’s the moment everyone dreams about. Just getting your name called. Going up there. I’m just going to do the traditional. Shake his hand… That’s just the moment everyone was working for and dreaming of.” - Vaughn on what he’ll do after Commissioner Adam Silver calls his name.