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Jacque Vaughn
Jacque Vaughn
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Jacque Trevan Vaughn (born February 11, 1975)[1] is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Kansas Jayhawks of the Big 12 Conference. Vaughn played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets, and San Antonio Spurs from 1997 to 2009.

Key Information

Playing career

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High school

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A native of Altadena, California, Vaughn attended John Muir High School in nearby Pasadena, where he maintained a 3.94 GPA,[2] and became the best high school player in that area since former Muir and NBA standout Stacey Augmon. Vaughn excelled both on and off the court, and by his senior year was ranked as high as the no. 7 high school recruit in the country and the no. 2 point guard in the class of 1993 behind arguably the nation's top player that year, Randy Livingston. Over the course of the season, Vaughn averaged over 21 points and 19 assists per game, while also compiling six triple-doubles. Named a First-Team All-American by nearly every publication on the market, Vaughn rounded off his special season with a selection to participate in the prestigious McDonald's All-American Game where he put on a show, scoring only 6 points but amassing 13 assists (still a McDonald's record), while also thoroughly outplaying the higher-ranked Livingston once again—this time on a national stage (they had both matched up against each other in the All-Star Game of the 1992 Nike Camp), and was named co-MVP with North Carolina's Jerry Stackhouse in the process. After considering Georgetown, Indiana, UNLV, Arizona and UCLA, Vaughn decided to play for coach Roy Williams at Kansas, continuing, along with fellow recruit and college roommate Scot Pollard, the California pipeline of high school hoopsters to Lawrence, Kansas, started by former standouts Adonis Jordan and Rex Walters, and continuing in later years with Paul Pierce and Eric Chenowith.

As a senior in high school in 1992, Vaughn was awarded the Dial Award as the nation's top male high school scholar-athlete, becoming the first basketball player ever to win that award.[3]

College

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In his college career Vaughn became the starting point guard as a freshman after being chosen to replace incumbent starter Calvin Rayford. Among his first-year highlights were earning the MVP award at the 1993 Pre-Season NIT at Madison Square Garden in New York City and hitting a game-winning three pointer at the overtime buzzer to beat Indiana in an early season game at Allen Fieldhouse.[4] Throughout his four years at Kansas, Vaughn was known as a good distributor of the basketball and effective defender with great speed and court awareness. By the end of his college career, he was the all-time leader in assists in Kansas basketball history with 804 total (since surpassed by Aaron Miles), as well as the Big Eight Conference's all-time record holder. In 1995, Vaughn was named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.[5] Additionally in 1997, the award given annually to the school's assist leader was renamed to include Vaughn, Miles and original assists leader, Cedric Hunter, as the Hunter/Vaughn/Miles Assists Award.

Vaughn earned a 3.72 GPA as a business administration major.[6] He was a two-time Academic All-American at Kansas and the 1997 GTE Academic All-American of the Year. He was also a two-time all-conference pick and was named the Big Eight Player of the Year in 1996. His college jersey was retired on December 31, 2002, and hangs in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse.[7]

Professional

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In 1997, Vaughn was selected 27th overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA draft. In addition to playing four seasons in Utah, Vaughn also played with the Orlando Magic, the Atlanta Hawks (in two separate stints), New Jersey Nets, and San Antonio Spurs. He appeared in 64 games for the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs during the 2006–07 season and finished his career there, retiring after the 2008–09 season. Over his career, he averaged 4.5 points per game and 2.5 assists per game. He also set an NBA record for consecutive missed field goal attempts to open a season, missing his first 22 to start the 2001 season with the Atlanta Hawks. After those 22 straight misses he shot a career best 47 percent that season.

NBA career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1997–98 Utah 45 0 9.3 .361 .375 .706 .8 1.9 .2 .0 3.1
1998–99 Utah 19 0 4.6 .367 .250 .833 .6 .6 .3 .0 2.3
1999–00 Utah 78 0 11.3 .416 .412 .750 .8 1.6 .4 .0 3.7
2000–01 Utah 82 0 19.8 .433 .385 .780 1.8 3.9 .6 .0 6.1
2001–02 Atlanta 82 16 22.6 .470 .444 .825 2.0 4.3 .8 .0 6.6
2002–03 Orlando 80 48 21.1 .448 .235 .776 1.5 2.9 .8 .0 5.9
2003–04 Atlanta 71 6 17.9 .386 .150 .779 1.6 2.7 .6 .0 3.8
2004–05 New Jersey 71 34 19.9 .449 .333 .835 1.5 1.9 .6 .0 5.3
2005–06 New Jersey 80 6 15.4 .437 .167 .728 1.1 1.5 .5 .0 3.4
2006–07 San Antonio 64 4 11.9 .425 .500 .754 1.1 2.0 .4 .0 3.0
2007–08 San Antonio 74 9 15.4 .428 .300 .763 1.0 2.1 .3 .0 4.1
2008–09 San Antonio 30 0 9.7 .320 1.000 .889 .7 1.8 .2 .0 2.2
Career 776 123 16.3 .429 .352 .779 1.3 2.5 .5 .0 4.5

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1998 Utah 7 0 3.4 .200 .500 1.000 .4 .6 .0 .0 1.0
1999 Utah 2 0 3.0 .500 1.000 .0 1.0 .0 .0 1.5
2000 Utah 7 0 9.6 .357 .500 .875 1.7 1.6 .6 .1 4.0
2001 Utah 5 0 11.4 .100 .500 .4 1.6 .0 .2 .6
2003 Orlando 7 6 18.7 .364 .000 .769 .9 3.6 .6 .1 4.9
2006 New Jersey 11 0 14.5 .364 .000 .571 1.0 1.1 .2 .0 2.5
2007 San Antonio 20 0 10.4 .400 .500 .5 1.4 .2 .0 2.2
2008 San Antonio 14 0 6.5 .273 .000 .6 .6 .1 .0 .9
2009 San Antonio 2 0 10.5 .400 .500 .0 2.0 .5 .0 3.5
Career 75 6 10.2 .342 .400 .690 .7 1.4 .2 .0 2.2

Coaching career

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Vaughn was an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs from 2010 to 2012. On July 28, 2012, Vaughn was named the new head coach of the Orlando Magic.[8] On February 5, 2015, he was fired by the Magic.[9] Vaughn then spent the 2015–16 season working as a professional scout for the Spurs.[10] He was hired as Kenny Atkinson's top assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets prior to the 2016–17 season,[11][12] and was promoted to interim head coach position in March 2020 following Atkinson's mid-season departure.[13] On September 3, 2020, the Nets hired Steve Nash as head coach, while Vaughn returned to his position as assistant coach.[14][15]

On November 1, 2022, Vaughn was named interim head coach after the Nets and Steve Nash parted ways,[16][17] and on November 9, he was announced as permanent Nets head coach.[18] On February 21, 2023, the Nets signed Vaughn to a contract extension.[19] On February 19, 2024, the Nets fired Vaughn after the team started the season with a 21–33 record and were out of playoff contention at the time of this firing.[20][21]

On May 21, 2025, Vaughn was named assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Kansas [22]

Head coaching record

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Orlando 2012–13 82 20 62 .244 5th in Southeast Missed playoffs
Orlando 2013–14 82 23 59 .280 5th in Southeast Missed playoffs
Orlando 2014–15 52 15 37 .288 (fired)
Brooklyn 2019–20 10 7 3 .700 4th in Atlantic 4 0 4 .000 Lost in First Round
Brooklyn 2022–23 75 43 32 .573 4th in Atlantic 4 0 4 .000 Lost in First Round
Brooklyn 2023–24 54 21 33 .389 (fired)
Career 355 129 226 .363   8 0 8 .000  

Personal life

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Vaughn and his wife were married in 2003. The couple have two sons. He enjoys reading and writing poetry.[23][24]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jacque Vaughn (born February 11, 1975) is an American professional basketball coach and former player, currently serving as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team. A point guard during his playing days, Vaughn enjoyed a 12-season career in the (NBA), appearing in 776 regular-season games across five teams and averaging 4.5 points and 2.5 assists per game while winning an NBA championship with the in 2007. He transitioned to coaching in 2010, serving as an NBA assistant before becoming a two-time head coach for the (2012–2015) and (interim 2019–2020 and full-time 2022–2024), compiling an overall NBA head coaching record of 129–226. Vaughn excelled at the from 1993 to 1997, where he was a standout guard who helped lead to four NCAA appearances, including three Sweet Sixteen berths and one in 1997. He earned consensus second-team All-American honors in both 1996 and 1997, was named Big Eight Player of the Year in 1996, and received two first-team Academic All-American selections (1996 and 1997), culminating in being named the 1997 GTE Academic All-American of the Year. His No. 11 was retired by in 2002, recognizing his contributions as one of the program's all-time greats, including ranking third in career assists with 804. Selected 27th overall by the in the , Vaughn began his professional career with the Jazz (1997–2001), where he established himself as a reliable backup point guard known for his defensive tenacity and leadership. He later played for the (2001–2002), (2002–2005), New Jersey Nets (2005–2006), and (2006–2009), contributing to the Spurs' 2007 NBA title as a veteran reserve during their dominant playoff run. Retiring in 2009 after a solid journeyman tenure, Vaughn's playing style emphasized smart decision-making and team play over individual scoring. Vaughn's coaching journey began as an assistant with the Spurs from 2010 to 2012, where he helped develop young talent during their championship-contending years. Promoted to head coach of the in July 2012, he guided the team through a rebuilding phase, posting a 58–158 record over three seasons before being relieved in 2015. After serving as an assistant with the starting in 2016, Vaughn took over as interim in 2019–20 following Atkinson's departure, then returned as lead assistant until being elevated to full-time in November 2022 after Steve Nash's exit; he held the role until February 2024, overseeing star-laden rosters featuring , , and later amid playoff appearances in 2023. In May 2025, Vaughn returned to his alma mater as an assistant under , bringing over 15 years of NBA coaching experience to mentor the next generation of .

Playing career

High school

Jacque Vaughn was born on February 11, 1975, in , , and his family relocated to the nearby Altadena area during his early years. Vaughn attended in , from 1989 to 1993, where he excelled academically with a 3.94 GPA while emerging as one of the top point guards in the nation. As a senior in the 1992–93 season, Vaughn averaged 21.7 points per game and was renowned for his playmaking ability, becoming the Southern Section's all-time assists leader; he also contributed significantly on defense, including seven steals in the championship game. Under his leadership, the Mustangs won the CIF Southern Section Division II-A championship, defeating Artesia 70–63 in the final, where Vaughn scored 23 points and recorded 15 assists. Vaughn earned first-team All-American honors and was selected to the , where he shared co-MVP honors after setting a record with 13 assists. He also received the Dial Award as the nation's top male high school scholar-athlete. A highly touted recruit, Vaughn committed to the University of Kansas over offers from schools including UCLA, , and UNLV.

College

Jacque Vaughn enrolled at the in 1993 and played four seasons for men's team from 1993 to 1997 under head coach Roy Williams. As the starting , Vaughn quickly established himself as a floor general known for his exceptional passing, court vision, and leadership, contributing to teams that posted strong records including a 34-2 mark in the 1996-97 season. His role was pivotal in orchestrating Kansas's high-powered offenses, which ranked among the nation's best in scoring during his tenure. Vaughn's individual accolades highlighted his impact, earning consensus second-team All-American honors in both 1996 and 1997, as well as Big Eight Player of the Year in 1996. He led Kansas to the Sweet 16 in the 1997 NCAA Tournament, where the top-seeded defeated No. 16 Jackson State 78-64 in the first round and No. 8 Purdue 75-61 in the second round before falling 85-82 to No. 4 in the regional semifinal. In the 1996 NCAA Tournament, he guided the team to the , defeating 83–80 in the Sweet Sixteen before losing 60–57 to Syracuse in the West Regional final. Over 126 career games (125 starts), Vaughn amassed 1,207 points at 9.6 points per game, 804 assists—ranking third all-time at —and shot 38.3% from three-point range, placing him 23rd in program history for that category. One of his most memorable performances came as a on December 22, 1993, when he hit a game-winning three-pointer at the in overtime to secure an 86-83 victory over . In recognition of his contributions, Kansas retired his No. 11 jersey on December 21, 2002, honoring his legacy as one of the program's elite point guards.

Professional

Vaughn was selected by the with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the . His recognition as a consensus All-American during his senior year at the contributed to his draft position as a highly regarded prospect. He signed a three-year contract with the Jazz shortly after the draft and made his NBA debut on October 31, 1997. Over the course of his 12-season NBA career, Vaughn played for five teams, establishing himself primarily as a reliable backup . He spent his first four seasons with the from 1997 to 2001, backing up Hall of Famer and appearing in 237 games. Vaughn then moved to the for the 2001-02 season, followed by a stint with the in 2002-03, where he started 48 of 80 games. He returned to for the 2003-04 campaign before signing with the Nets, where he played two seasons from 2004 to 2006. Vaughn concluded his playing days with the from 2006 to 2009, serving as a third-string behind and . In 776 regular-season games, he averaged 4.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 42.9% from the field. A highlight of Vaughn's career came during the 2006-07 season with the Spurs, where he contributed as a role player off the bench in 64 regular-season games and helped the team secure the NBA Championship, defeating the in the Finals. Vaughn's steady presence and low-turnover play exemplified his value in rotational roles throughout his tenure. He announced his retirement following the 2008-09 season after playing in 30 games for that year.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Vaughn played in 776 regular season games over 12 NBA seasons from 1997 to 2009, primarily as a . His career per-game averages were 4.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.5 steals, while shooting 43.3% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. In total, he scored 3,463 points, recorded 1,918 assists, and grabbed 1,028 rebounds. The following table provides a year-by-year breakdown of his per-game :
SeasonTeamGMPFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGPPG
1997–98UTA459.3.361.375.7060.81.90.23.1
1998–99UTA194.6.367.250.8330.60.60.32.3
1999–00UTA7811.3.416.412.7500.81.60.43.7
2000–01UTA8219.8.433.385.7801.83.90.66.1
2001–02ATL8222.6.470.444.8252.04.30.86.6
2002–03ORL8021.1.448.235.7761.52.90.85.9
2003–04ATL7117.9.386.150.7791.62.70.63.8
2004–05NJN7119.9.449.333.8351.51.90.65.3
2005–06NJN8015.4.437.167.7281.11.50.53.4
2006–07SAS6411.9.425.500.7541.12.00.43.0
2007–08SAS7415.4.428.300.7631.02.10.34.1
2008–09SAS309.7.3201.000.8890.71.80.22.2
77615.4.433.375.7771.32.50.54.5
Vaughn maintained consistent minutes as a reserve player, averaging 15.4 minutes per game throughout his career. His shooting efficiency was solid in his later years with the , where he posted a of 42.8% in the 2007–08 season while contributing steadily off the bench.

Playoffs

Vaughn appeared in 75 NBA playoff games over his career, suiting up for the (1998–2001), (2003), New Jersey Nets (2005–2006), and (2007–2009). As a reserve , he provided depth in postseason rotations, averaging 2.2 points, 0.7 rebound, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 34.7% from the and 33.3% from three-point range. His career playoff totals included 165 points, 52 rebounds, and 102 assists across those appearances.
SeasonTeamGPMPFG%3P%RPGAPGPPG
1997-98UTA73.4.200.5000.40.61.0
1998-99UTA23.0.5001.0000.01.01.5
1999-00UTA79.6.357.5001.71.64.0
2000-01UTA511.4.100.5000.41.60.6
2002-03ORL718.7.364.0000.93.64.9
2005-06NJN1114.5.364.0001.01.12.5
2006-07SAS2010.4.4000.51.42.2
2007-08SAS146.5.273.0000.60.60.9
2008-09SAS210.5.4000.02.03.5
Career7510.3.347.3330.71.42.2
Vaughn's playoff contributions were often in supporting roles, but he had standout moments in high-stakes series. During the 1998 Western Conference Finals, he appeared in two games for the Jazz as they won the series 4–1 against the Los Angeles Lakers, logging limited minutes off the bench in his rookie postseason. A decade later, in the 2007 playoffs with the Spurs, Vaughn played a pivotal reserve role in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against his former team, the Jazz, contributing 21 minutes, 8 points, and 6 assists to secure a 109-84 victory that advanced San Antonio to the NBA Finals. In the Finals, he saw action averaging 10 minutes per game across the four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers, earning his first and only NBA championship ring.

Coaching career

Assistant coaching positions

Following his retirement from professional basketball in 2009, Vaughn transitioned directly into coaching as an assistant with the for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons under head coach . In this role, Vaughn contributed to a Spurs team that achieved 61 wins in 2010-11 before losing in the Western Conference Finals and 50 wins in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, also ending in the Western Conference Finals. Drawing on his background as a , Vaughn supported player development efforts, including mentoring emerging talent during San Antonio's consistent contention for titles. After serving as head coach of the from 2012 to 2015 and a one-year stint as a professional scout for the Spurs in 2015-16, Vaughn returned to assistant coaching with the in July 2016 under head coach . Promoted to lead assistant by 2020, Vaughn played a key role in developing the Nets' young roster during a rebuilding phase, emphasizing defensive principles and analytical approaches to improve team efficiency in pace, ball movement, and defensive rating. His contributions helped Brooklyn qualify for the in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, marking the franchise's first postseason appearances since 2014. In March 2020, Vaughn served as interim head coach for the final 10 regular-season games amid the hiatus, guiding the Nets to a 7-3 record before returning to his assistant position under new head coach .

Head coaching positions

Vaughn's first head coaching role came with the , where he was hired on July 28, 2012, to lead a franchise in transition following the dismissal of . Over two and a half seasons, Vaughn compiled an overall record of 58-158, emphasizing the development of young talent amid a rebuilding phase. His tenure included guiding rookies like , the second overall pick in the , as the Magic focused on foundational growth rather than immediate contention, though the team struggled with consistent wins, finishing with losing records each year. Vaughn was fired on February 5, 2015, after a 15-37 start to the 2014-15 season, with assistant named interim head coach. In 2020, Vaughn returned to a head coaching position with the , initially as interim coach on March 7, 2020, following Kenny Atkinson's departure, before being promoted to full-time on November 9, 2022. His Nets tenure spanned parts of three seasons, yielding a 71-68 regular-season record over 139 games, including a 7-3 mark in the 2019-20 interim stint. Vaughn managed high-profile rosters featuring and during his head coaching tenure from 2022 to 2024, prioritizing team culture, defensive principles, and player accountability to navigate roster challenges like injuries and trades. The Nets reached the playoffs in 2020 and 2023 but were eliminated early both times; by the 2023-24 season, with a retooling roster, Vaughn posted a 21-33 record before being fired on February 19, 2024. Throughout his head coaching career, Vaughn's philosophy centered on player empowerment, simplified high-IQ schemes, and fostering trust through clear communication, drawing from his time as an assistant under in . He advocated for rest and efficiency in practices to maximize performance, as seen in his Nets approach of reducing shootarounds during intense schedules. This style aimed at cohesive, team-first , holding players accountable while adapting to star-driven dynamics.

Head coaching record

Vaughn served as head coach for the from 2012 to 2015 and for the from 2020 to 2024, compiling NBA regular season records across these tenures.
SeasonTeamGWLW/L%
2012–13822062.244
2013–14822359.280
2014–15521537.288
2019–201073.700
2022–23754332.573
2023–24542133.389
Career355129226.363
Vaughn's playoff appearances occurred solely with the Nets, where he went 0–8 across two first-round series.
SeasonTeamSeriesGWLWin %
2019–20East First Round (vs. )404.000
2022–23East First Round (vs. )404.000
Career808.000
Overall, Vaughn's regular season trended upward from .269 during his Magic tenure to .511 with the Nets, reflecting improved team performance in Brooklyn. His career home record stands at 73–102 (.417), while his road record is 56–124 (.311).

College coaching position

On May 21, 2025, Jacque Vaughn was named an assistant coach for the team under head coach , marking his first college-level coaching role and a return to his where his No. 11 jersey hangs retired in the rafters of . This hire filled the vacancy left by , who retired after 14 seasons with the program. Vaughn's responsibilities emphasize guard development, leveraging his experience as a former All-American , alongside recruiting top talent and preserving ' storied legacy. His addition to the staff has also fueled speculation about his potential as a successor to the 62-year-old . Opting for Kansas over several NBA assistant coaching opportunities, Vaughn infuses the program with his NBA championship pedigree from his playing days and prior professional coaching tenure to guide emerging players. By 2025, Vaughn had contributed to 2025-26 season preparations, including hands-on workouts with incoming freshman guard Darryn Peterson and oversight during the team's exhibition opener against Green Bay on November 3.

Personal life

Family

Jacque Vaughn married Laura DePaolis in July 2002 after meeting her during his college years at the , where she also attended. Laura, born on July 20, 1977, has kept a relatively low public profile while supporting her husband's endeavors in . The couple has two sons: , born on September 6, 2004, in , and , born in 2006 in . has actively pursued , with Laura taking an involved role in managing his training and development. has similarly shown interests in athletic pursuits, reflecting the family's engagement with . Laura has been instrumental in Vaughn's career transitions, providing steadfast support amid frequent relocations required for his roles as a player and coach across cities including , , Orlando, , , and . Vaughn has publicly acknowledged the sacrifices his family made during these moves, noting in a June 2025 interview that "a lot of the moves that we made, my family made a huge sacrifice," with one son born in Lawrence and the other in , and time spent in Orlando and . Prior to Vaughn's return to as an assistant coach in May 2025, the family resided in , New York.

Interests and education

Vaughn earned a in from the in 1997, achieving a 3.72 GPA while excelling athletically. In his personal life, Vaughn finds creative outlets in reading literature and writing . He particularly enjoys the works of poets such as and to unwind during his demanding career. These pursuits reflect influences from key mentors, including his coach Roy Williams, who shaped his approach to discipline and personal growth. Beyond these hobbies, Vaughn actively participates in youth basketball development through coaching roles at camps, such as the Basketball Camp. He also engages with the Kansas community by attending and supporting events that foster connections among Jayhawk .

References

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