Govoner Vaughn (born March 1, 1937)[2] was a former high school, college and professional basketball player during the 1950s & 60s. Vaughn led Edwardsville High School to a fourth-place finish in the I.H.S.A. 1954 high school playoffs, as well as a second-place finish in 1956 to defending champion, Rockford West. Vaughn played in eight career state playoff games over two seasons, and his 92 points were all scored during the 1956 tournament. He, along with his teammate, Mannie Jackson, were named first-team all-tournament.
Vaughn went on to play for the University of Illinois for three years, 1957–1960, where he and his fellow high school teammate, Jackson, were the first African-American letter winners for the University of Illinois.[3] Vaughn scored 1,001 career points, the 46th highest total in Illini history. He also holds the second highest single season free-throw percentage at .865, making 83 of 96 during the 1959–60 season.
After graduating from Illinois in 1960, Vaughn joined the Harlem Globetrotters. During his time with the Globetrotters, he was named MVP of the 1961 World Series of Basketball. This event was a 20-game series against the nation's top college seniors.[4] Vaughn rejoined the Globetrotters in 2010 and served as the team's director of alumni relations after spending 24 years at Detroit Edison.
College careeredit
1956-57 seasonedit
Vaughn played on the freshman squad, records for this season could not be added to his varsity totals.
1957-58 seasonedit
During Vaughn's sophomore season, he started all 22 games as the team's center. He finished the season with the second highest point total (327) averaging 14.9 points per game. Only Don Ohl scored more points at 431. Vaughn, however, finished with the highest field goal average at .426 and the second highest free-throw percentage at .773, making 51 of his 66 attempts.[5]
1958-59 seasonedit
Even with the graduation of leading scorer Don Ohl, the Fighting Illini experienced a surge in performance sparked by the play of junior center John Wessels and Edwardsville High School teammate Mannie Jackson along with senior guard Roger Taylor. These changes, however, limited Vaughn's production and reduced his point total to 263 for the season. Even with a reduced role, Vaughn finished the season with the fourth highest point total averaging 12.5 points per game.[6]
1959-60 seasonedit
Vaughn was the instrumental force in the 1959–60 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team. He started all 23 games during that season and dominated all offensive categories after an injury sidelined previous team-leader John Wessels. Vaughn was first on the Fighting Illini in scoring with 411 points (17.9 per game), first on the team in rebounding with 189 (8.2 per game) and first on the team in free-throw percentage at .865 (83 of 96); second on the all-time Illini record list. Vaughn was named team MVP as well as All-American for this season.[7]
1973 - Inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame as a player.[9][10]
2008 - Honored as one of the thirty-three honored jerseys which hang in the State Farm Center to show regard for being the most decorated basketball players in the University of Illinois' history.
Statisticsedit
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021)
^"Three Illini Basketball Legends Join Honored Jerseys". University of Illinois Alumni Association. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
^"Govoner Vaughn: Illinois's Groundbreaking Star". 26 February 2020.
^Tate, Loren; Gelfond, Jared (September 15, 2004). A Century of Orange and Blue: Celebrating 100 Years of Fighting Illini. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN9781582617930. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
^"HISTORY OF THE WORLD SERIES OF BASKETBALL 1950 - 1958, 1961 - 1962". Retrieved 2024-01-11.
^. Archived from the original on 2014-03-19. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
^. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
^. Archived from the original on 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
Govoner Vaughn's Honored Jersey Ceremony on YouTube
January 01, 1970
govoner, vaughn, born, march, 1937, former, high, school, college, professional, basketball, player, during, 1950s, vaughn, edwardsville, high, school, fourth, place, finish, 1954, high, school, playoffs, well, second, place, finish, 1956, defending, champion,. Govoner Vaughn born March 1 1937 2 was a former high school college and professional basketball player during the 1950s amp 60s Vaughn led Edwardsville High School to a fourth place finish in the I H S A 1954 high school playoffs as well as a second place finish in 1956 to defending champion Rockford West Vaughn played in eight career state playoff games over two seasons and his 92 points were all scored during the 1956 tournament He along with his teammate Mannie Jackson were named first team all tournament Govoner VaughnCollegeIllinoisConferenceBig TenSportBasketballPositionForwardJersey 35Height6 ft 3 in 1 91 m Weight185 lb 84 kg NationalityAmericanBorn 1937 03 01 March 1 1937 age 87 Edwardsville IllinoisHigh schoolEdwardsville High SchoolAwards2 All American 1958 1960 2 All Big Ten 1959 1960 Honors1st African American Fighting Illini basketball player 1 All Tournament Team 1956 Team MVP 1960 World Series of Basketball MVP 1961 Illinois All Century Team 2008 Honored jersey 2012 Long Beach Chiefs 1961 1963 Championships Vaughn went on to play for the University of Illinois for three years 1957 1960 where he and his fellow high school teammate Jackson were the first African American letter winners for the University of Illinois 3 Vaughn scored 1 001 career points the 46th highest total in Illini history He also holds the second highest single season free throw percentage at 865 making 83 of 96 during the 1959 60 season After graduating from Illinois in 1960 Vaughn joined the Harlem Globetrotters During his time with the Globetrotters he was named MVP of the 1961 World Series of Basketball This event was a 20 game series against the nation s top college seniors 4 Vaughn rejoined the Globetrotters in 2010 and served as the team s director of alumni relations after spending 24 years at Detroit Edison College career edit1956 57 season edit Vaughn played on the freshman squad records for this season could not be added to his varsity totals 1957 58 season edit During Vaughn s sophomore season he started all 22 games as the team s center He finished the season with the second highest point total 327 averaging 14 9 points per game Only Don Ohl scored more points at 431 Vaughn however finished with the highest field goal average at 426 and the second highest free throw percentage at 773 making 51 of his 66 attempts 5 1958 59 season edit Even with the graduation of leading scorer Don Ohl the Fighting Illini experienced a surge in performance sparked by the play of junior center John Wessels and Edwardsville High School teammate Mannie Jackson along with senior guard Roger Taylor These changes however limited Vaughn s production and reduced his point total to 263 for the season Even with a reduced role Vaughn finished the season with the fourth highest point total averaging 12 5 points per game 6 1959 60 season edit Vaughn was the instrumental force in the 1959 60 Illinois Fighting Illini men s basketball team He started all 23 games during that season and dominated all offensive categories after an injury sidelined previous team leader John Wessels Vaughn was first on the Fighting Illini in scoring with 411 points 17 9 per game first on the team in rebounding with 189 8 2 per game and first on the team in free throw percentage at 865 83 of 96 second on the all time Illini record list Vaughn was named team MVP as well as All American for this season 7 Honors editBasketball edit 1958 Honorable Mention All American 1959 Honorable Mention All Big Ten 1960 2nd Team All Big Ten 1960 Team MVP 8 1960 Honorable Mention All American 1973 Inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association s Hall of Fame as a player 9 10 2008 Honored as one of the thirty three honored jerseys which hang in the State Farm Center to show regard for being the most decorated basketball players in the University of Illinois history Statistics editThis section is empty You can help by adding to it September 2021 College editSeason Games Points PPG Field Goals Attempts Avg Free Throws Attempts Avg Rebounds Avg Big Ten Record Overall Record 1957 58 22 327 14 9 138 324 426 51 66 773 5 9 11 11 1958 59 21 263 12 5 110 289 381 43 67 642 170 8 1 7 7 12 10 1959 60 23 411 17 9 164 357 459 83 96 865 187 8 1 8 6 16 7 Totals 66 1001 15 2 412 970 425 177 229 773 357 8 1 20 22 39 28 11 References edit Three Illini Basketball Legends Join Honored Jerseys University of Illinois Alumni Association Retrieved January 30 2014 Govoner Vaughn Illinois s Groundbreaking Star 26 February 2020 Tate Loren Gelfond Jared September 15 2004 A Century of Orange and Blue Celebrating 100 Years of Fighting Illini Sports Publishing LLC ISBN 9781582617930 Retrieved January 31 2014 HISTORY OF THE WORLD SERIES OF BASKETBALL 1950 1958 1961 1962 Retrieved 2024 01 11 University of Illinois Fighting Illini Statistics Summary for 1957 58 Archived from the original on 2014 03 19 Retrieved 2014 03 19 University of Illinois Fighting Illini Statistics Summary for 1958 59 Archived from the original on 2013 11 02 Retrieved 2014 03 18 University of Illinois Fighting Illini Statistics Summary for 1959 60 Archived from the original on 2013 06 25 Retrieved 2014 03 11 FightingIllini com IBCA Hall of Fame BasketballMuseumOfIllinois com Sports Reference comExternal links editHarlem Globetrotters Profile Govoner Vaughn s Honored Jersey Ceremony on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Govoner Vaughn amp oldid 1194974352, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
