Deonta - How good is he going to be?

[jeffto]

He's ahead of Logan's scoring pace. He's getting better. I think Oscar really likes him:http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/SPORTS/801120449/1247/SPORTS

[Thegreatone]

He is going to be a big timer the rest of the way. He is so unselfish, sometimes it hurts him. I am really excited about what he can accomplish here. He is very polished for a Sophomore. He understands the game and can flat out score the ball. He capable of being as good as Steve Logan and that is about as high of a compliment as I can give because I hold Logan in incredably high regards.

[Corporateballa]

Great question. Van Excell and Logan where the two best Guards in the Huggins era. Roger McClendon was by far the best player in the Yates era. That's as far back as I go as a fan. I don't remember Yoder, Collier, Brian Williams, Mike Jones (Catlette era) -or- Eddie Lee (Badger era). I wasn't born when Roland West, Tony Yates, Ron Beihnum etc. played at UC.

From what I've seen to date I don't think he will be better than Logan or Nicky. In two years Nick lead his teams to elite 8 and final 4 appearances. Logan was 1st team all-american and the number-2 scorer in the history of the University. Anything is possible. He is not the scorer that either of those guys were. Imagine Nick on a team with no other scorer. He might have averaged 30. Logan was probably the 2nd best shooter in the history of the program (I've NEVER seen anyone shoot the ball like Lazelle Durden, not even J.J. Reddick). Both of these guys avoided major injuries. Both played with future pros (Logan - Maxeille & Satterfield; Nicky - Blount), and all-conference talent. There are no NBA players on the current roster (Biggie McClain?); however, Gates is certainly a pro (Mike Williams maybe?).

With that said, I think Deonta has a chance to be better than those guys if he continues to develop and the talent develops around him (just not convinced yet). He is a much better athlete than Logan, and he is better and stronger than Nick. He will also be playing against much better competition night in and night out than anyone in the history of the program. No Tulanes or Houstons to run your stats up against. He is becoming a more consistant shooter, and is getting better at using his strength to finish in the lane.

Logan was brilliant. Consistant. He never missed an open shott, and he never got his shot blocked, and he never turned the ball over. He had the competitive drive of Isiah Thomas. Played angry, with a chip on his shoulder. Nick was so explosive. Was probably the quickest player in the country with the ball in his hands. Lights out in the clutch. If Deonta can approach the individual and team succes of those two, then we are in for quite a ride. If he averages 24 points a game for the rest of the BE schedule, and they finish in the top-4 in the league and make the tourny, then I'll revise my perspective. No matter what, Deonta will always hold a special place in the history of this program as the guy who was Mick's first H.S. recruit, and a key cog in helping to get this thing back on track!

[Kindog202]

If Deonta stays for all 4 years (more than likely) and continues to score as he has been scoring, he will pass Logan for 2nd place all-time scorer in UC history. Deonta is better as a sophmore than Logan was as a sophmore. Logan kicked it into gear in his last 2 years, especially as a senior and I think that is what most of us remember him for. It remains to be seen where/how Deonta will finish after 4 years.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Great question. Van Exel and Logan where the two best Guards in the Huggins era. Roger McClendon was by far the best player in the Yates era. That's as far back as I go as a fan. I don't remember Yoder, Collier, Brian Williams, Mike Jones (Catlett era) -or- Eddie Lee (Badger era). I wasn't born when Roland West, Tony Yates, Ron Bonham, etc. played at UC.

Collier was a shooter, Yoder ran the offense. Williams was WF as was Jones.

Eddie Lee was signed by Catlett but finished under Badger. Excellent G was he.

Yates and (Tom) Thacker were a powerful G duo in early 60's. West was decent.

Don't forget Don Ogletree from the Tay Baker regime. (Lloyd Batts was more WF than SG)

[Corporateballa]

If Deonta stays for all 4 years (more than likely) and continues to score as he has been scoring, he will pass Logan for 2nd place all-time scorer in UC history. Deonta is better as a sophmore than Logan was as a sophmore. Logan kicked it into gear in his last 2 years, especially as a senior and I think that is what most of us remember him for. It remains to be seen where/how Deonta will finish after 4 years.

Logan was a fat kid. He had to loose weight, but he still contributed from day #1. His freshman year, he had to play behind a senior (Michael Horton). His soph year they brought in Satterfield and but him ahead of Logan. Kenyon Mrrtin, Pete Michael, Levtte, Damarr Johnson, Ryan Fletcher etc. were on those teams. His Jr. year, he and Satterfield were beasts!

[jeffto]

It’s interesting to note that Vaughn has already scored 686 points in his UC career. At the end of his sophomore year, Logan had scored 618 points. - Bill Koch

[jeffto]

(Logan) Played angry, with a chip on his shoulder. That and injury probably hurt his NBA chances.

It would be nice if he came back to town. I'm not sure he realizes how popular he is in Cincy.

[Corporateballa]

It’s interesting to note that Vaughn has already scored 686 points in his UC career. At the end of his sophomore year, Logan had scored 618 points. - Bill Koch


WOW! That's a great stat. If he averages 20 per for the next 14 regular season games (big if), he will have 900 points. Logan averaged 25 as a senior. That is monster production.

[TheLivingLegend]

That and injury probably hurt his NBA chances.

It would be nice if he came back to town. I'm not sure he realizes how popular he is in Cincy.


Hes not in town??? I heard hes been around UC and done some work there.

[MikeInClifton]

Hes not in town??? I heard hes been around UC and done some work there.

The last I heard, Logan was in school at UC. But that was last spring/summer. I saw him on campus back at that time. Not sure if he is still around.

When I first saw Deonta at Harmony, my first thought was Steve Logan, The Sequel.

[jeffto]

Hes not in town??? I heard hes been around UC and done some work there.Cool. He played 4 games in Israel sometime in 2007. His agent still lists him among his clients.

[Catmandu]

Cool. He played 4 games in Israel sometime in 2007. His agent still lists him among his clients.

Tough time to be playing in israel.... geez...

Deonte does have the advantage that he hasn't played behind anyone like logan had too... imagine if logan got the minutes and green light as much as deonte did. You never know what would have happened. It's tough to compare until the body of work is complete.

But he sure did look good the other night.

I'm looking for the 3 pt threat that always hits, I do mis having Logan and Durden who you knew at any time could jack up a three and nail it, from far out to, the quick shot they had was amazing.

[Irishbearcat]

It's hard to not compare the two. They even have a similar build, and point production. Logan was money as a junior and senior.....the way Vaughn is going, he'll be on the next nickel.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Steve Logan (I think) averaged Single Digits in 1999 and 2000 then Double-Double Digits (20+ ppg) in 2001 and 02.

[bearcatgary]

Logan really kicked it into high gear somewhere in the middle of his junior year. He started realizing he could take over games simply by driving to the hoop, stopping and burying that patented pull-up jumper of his. From that point on, he was dominant.

The other thing about Logan was that he was 'light's out' from the line at the end of the game. When UC was up by less than 10, with 3 minutes to play, Logan would say, 'Give me the ball, this game is over.' Darnel Burton was a lot like that, too.

I haven't seen much of Deanta, but if you guys are comparing him to Logan, I've very happy.

--Gary

[Corporateballa]

It's hard to not compare the two. They even have a similar build, and point production. Logan was money as a junior and senior.....the way Vaughn is going, he'll be on the next nickel.

Their builds aren't really that similar. Vaughn is cut out of granite. If Logan had his body, he'd be in the NBA.

Golden State took Logan with the first pick of the second round (like 30th overall). They took Mike Dunleavy first that year. They offered him a two year $1million contract with the first year guarenteed. Logan got some bad advice from his agent and didn't sign. He ended up getting hurt in summer league, gaining weight, and never coming close to the player he was at UC. GS drafted him to be there point guard. Gilbert Arenas had a horrible rookie year, and Logan would have been the only true PG on the roster. They ended up trading for Barron Davis, and Arena is an all-star, and Logan played four games in Israel :-(

[ucbearcatfan]

I don't understand why people are saying Vaughn is able to score more because he doesn't have the players like Logan or Van Exel did around them. I can see that, but wouldn't you also think it's a disadvantage because other teams key him and usually put their best defenders on him. He's amazing off the dribble and works hard to get open shots. I believe he will be better than Steve Logan as he progresses over the next few years.

[STKohls]

One great thing about Steve Logan was that he continually improved his game by adding skills. He went from a freshman stand-still shooter to a sophmore that could shoot off the dribble. By his junior year he'd also drive to the hoop and beat you with the pass or shot.

Vaughn appears to have most of that skill set already. If he can continue to improve his game like Logan did, we'll see his name up on the wall of 5/3 Arena.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

http://www.nba.com/draft2002/profiles/steve_logan.html Logan was 8 or 9 ppg scorer as frosh and soph. Vaughn way ahead of that.

Logan improved greatly as junior, even more as senior. Vaughn can, too.

[GoCats1994]

Another stat to throw into the discussion...

Logan played on teams with a much different offensive game plan. (Faster pace...more points were scored).

With UC's current team, Cronin knows that UC has a better chance of winning if the score is kept low. Not to say it will be this way for all four of Vaughn's years...although at this point, Vaughn is scoring points when there are not many to be scored.


Logan's Jr year - 73.9 pts/game avg
Logan's Sr year - 78.2 pts/game avg

Vaughn's Fr year - 64.6 pts/game avg
Vaughn's So year - 66.3 pts/game avg (so far)

[nolte50uc]

In two years Vaughn is going to be one of those players that other teams will look at and say 'he's still playing?! He's been there like seven years.' The impact and exposure he's had here in just the short time he's been here has been big. He does play much more mature than a soph.

[Cordon]

Funny.. Steve's middle name is "Deontay".

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

He is going to be a big timer the rest of the way. He is so unselfish, sometimes it hurts him. I am really excited about what he can accomplish here. He is very polished for a Sophomore. He understands the game and can flat out score the ball. He capable of being as good as Steve Logan and that is about as high of a compliment as I can give because I hold Logan in incredably high regards.

When did the term "score the ball" become fashionable? I always thought you scored baskets. In the old days, it was just a guy could score....period. This term still gets to me, every time I see or hear it.

[GoCats1994]

Other personal peeves:

"I gave 110% out there"
"He has a high Basketball IQ"
"We're #1" (when cameras flash to the student section prior to a time out)

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

One great thing about Steve Logan was that he continually improved his game by adding skills. He went from a freshman stand-still shooter to a sophmore that could shoot off the dribble. By his junior year he'd also drive to the hoop and beat you with the pass or shot.

Vaughn appears to have most of that skill set already. If he can continue to improve his game like Logan did, we'll see his name up on the wall of 5/3 Arena.


IMO, Vaughn needs to improve his shot to approach what Logan did.

[bearcatmark]

I think Vaughn needs to improve his ball handling more than anything else. It would be great if he could play on the ball enough next year so that Wright has time to get comfortable at the college level. Lo really protected the basketball.

[GoCats1994]

bearcatmark = I agree 100%.

Once the season ends, I would like to see Mick tell Vaughn to take a basketball, go into a basement, turn off the lights, and dribble until September.

[jon b]

When I first saw Deonta at Harmony, my first thought was Steve Logan, The Sequel.

Not that it is easy to learn, but I would love if Vaughn could get that drive with a jump back/partial fade away shot that Logan had. It was so hard to block and for a stocky guy, he was very quick with it. Heck, for any guy he was quick with it. It gave him a dimension that was extremely tough to defend. DV is good on the pull up jumper, but does not use his body to create space anywhere near as well as Logan.

[jeffto]

Say hello to: Cincinnati shooting guard Deonta Vaughn, who averaged 27 points in two important Bearcats victories and nearly stole the player of the week award away from Hibbert. Vaughn is much more comfortable now that point guard Jamual Warren is back in the lineup -- that means Vaughn can play off the ball most of the time and concentrate on scoring, which is his specialty. He made 7-of-16 from 3-point range and -- as the player who hit the crucial jump shot in an earlier victory over Louisville -- continued to show he will perform under pressure. - Mike DeCourcy 1/14/08

[richard k.]

Not that it is easy to learn, but I would love if Vaughn could get that drive with a jump back/partial fade away shot that Logan had. It was so hard to block and for a stocky guy, he was very quick with it. Heck, for any guy he was quick with it. It gave him a dimension that was extremely tough to defend. DV is good on the pull up jumper, but does not use his body to create space anywhere near as well as Logan.

Hey Jon - on a somewhat different subject - have you got the skinny on the jump stop move and when it turns into a walk? The people behind us at the Villanova game didn't stop screaming walk all night, even though it was apparent the officials weren't going to call it, and after the game the coaches commented that in the 2nd half Vaughn used it once or twice. It's a little different then a drive with a pull up fade away, but the guys on the radio after the game said even some of the UC players were confused with what Villanova was doing and stopped playing because they thought it was an obvious walk.

[iamspen]

Sitting with the band directly behind the basket, I saw a 'Nova player jump stop, bobble the ball, then take a step. That's a walk thirty different ways.