After breaking Richard Montgomery’s all-time basketball scoring record this season, Tavares “Boogie” Vaughn-Cooper has added another achievement to his collection: Player of the Year.
“It represents all the time, effort, and dedication I’ve put into the game,” Vaughn-Cooper stated in an interview when asked about the award. The senior backed this honor by shooting 46 percent from the range whilst maintaining a team-high 25.2 points per game. In all but three games, he scored more than 15 points, and scored more than 20 on numerous occasions. Add that to his 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and you’ll see one of the most well-rounded players in the state of Maryland.
But stats aren’t the only thing on his resume that makes him a Player of the Year candidate. Senior Jayceon Smith talked about his impact on the team, stating that he brought a “very positive vibe,” also calling him “the spark plug” to the team. Junior Rueben Cummings recalled his “competitiveness that forced everyone to play their hardest.” Cummings was inspired by his discipline, explaining him as “someone who was all about putting the work in every day, and that definitely showed.”
Boogie’s on-the-court impact is recognized by both teammates, who highlighted his impact in the game versus Seneca Valley on senior night, where he scored 24 points. “Anytime they caught up he’d just respond with a bucket,” Rueben mentioned. “Every shot he took went in and it was really impressive, but I think you saw that a lot, that was just one of the games.”
Smith remembers his sophomore season with Boogie, where he dropped 40 points in a Christmas tournament game. “Boog[ie] showed up for us a lot!” Jayceon stated. This was reiterated over the course of this season multiple times, including in a 57-56 win of Whitman, where Vaughn-Cooper stepped up and put up 25 points.
Vaughn-Cooper was as great a player as a teacher to his teammates, helping them learn the key to playing successful basketball. “Something I learned from him was the importance of playing confident no matter the performance leading up to where you’re at,” Cummings stated. Smith believed “the biggest thing [he] took from [Boogie’s] game was the way he stayed in control during intense games.” He talked more about how “he was never fazed”.
Boogie didn’t become the Division Two Commit he is today without help from the adults around him. He explained that his coaches taught him “discipline, preparation, and attention to detail.” He added, “They showed me that success comes from doing the small things consistently, and that’s something I’ll carry with me moving forward.” Vaughn-Cooper’s coach David Breslaw was one of the few who helped him and the squad reach the regional semifinals.
However, Boogie highlighted his dad as the defining person that helped him reach this point. “He’s led the way for me throughout my entire journey. He’s always pushed me to work hard, stay disciplined, and never settle for less than my best.”
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