Sports Talk: Mason's Vaughan Gets Chance to Dance

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IN HIGH SCHOOL, JOHN VAUGHAN AND Folarin Campbell talked about going to the same college. When they got to George Mason four years ago, they roomed together and talked about turning the program around and taking the Patriots to the NCAA tournament. They did almost everything together.

But when the Patriots made their historic run to the Final Four, Vaughan wasn't on the court — he was on the bench with a knee injury.

"To see that group bring it together the way we did that year ... it was great to see those guys go out there and play as hard as they did, as well as they did," Vaughan says.

The Laurel, Md., product came to Mason as arguably the most highly recruited of the group that, with Campbell and Will Thomas, was called the best class ever recruited by coach Jim Larranaga. As a freshman, he averaged 23 minutes and 7.5 points per game, fourth on the team, and was the only member of that heralded freshman class to make the CAA all-rookie team.

Then, before his sophomore season could even get started, Vaughan torn his ACL. He missed the entire season, and he says it devastated him to not be able to play.

"Watching the team go out there and perform to great heights — it was tough," Vaughan says. "Ever since then, it's been a goal of mine to help this team get back to the tournament."

Now he has that chance. This season, with Vaughan healthy, the threesome that includes him, Campbell and Thomas is averaging more than 48 points per game. On Thursday, the Patriots will play in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Denver, and they will be underdogs just like last time — this time against Notre Dame and Big East player of the year Luke Harangody.

"We're going up against a tough team," Vaughan said. "But if we do the things we're supposed to do, we should be fine."

Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post