The UC high school Class of 2006 started and ended with one Deonta Vaughn.

As Vaughn's career winds to a close this spring so to does the book on Cronin's very first recruiting class. Has Vaughn lived up to expectations, exceeded them? Where does his name rest in the annals of UC history, in the record books?

Before acknowledging his career achievements, each season needs a brief remembrance.

FRESHMAN YEAR

Deonta Vaughn led the team in scoring his first year because he had to.

The original roster Mick Cronin compiled upon his arrival at UC was filled with players from all over the country, vagabonds from Alabama, New Mexico, Virginia, Texas, and Massachusetts. The hodge-podge group included seven JuCo transfers, three holdovers, and just one freshman Deonta Vaughn.

Along with Cedric McGowan, Vaughn felt the need to shoot and shoot often for the 06-07 edition of Bearcats' basketball. He handled the ball, distributed, ran the offense, wiggled into the paint, and chucked from deep. The season was exhausting and the burden put upon Vaughn was tremendous.

Rarely is a freshman asked to lead a Big East team from the point guard spot. Even more infrequently is a freshman the leading scorer for a Big East outfit.

Vaughn did both during one of the most turbulent times in UC basketball history.

Perhaps his greatest game in year one came just two days prior to Christmas. Vaughn led his unlikely collection of JuCo pals to 80-71 win over N.C. State. Ten days earlier Vaughn collected his first and only win in the Crosstown Shootout. His 24 points led all scorers.

The team was bad and the only bright spot hinting at the future promise of the Cincinnati program was the young, blatantly talented Deonta Vaughn.

SOPHOMORE YEAR

During Vaughn's career his influence on the team was strongest in the sophomore year. Vaughn began establishing himself as one of the conference's best sharpshooters. The Indianapolis-product actually buried nearly half of the Bearcats' bombs in 2007-2008.

Despite being the team's primary scoring option DV raised up night after night to confidently bury the triple. At season's end the sophomore nailed 97 long-range shots for a 13-19 team. Only LaZelle Durden put forth a more impressive outside shooting display in UC history by recording 127 triples in 1994-1995.

For Vaughn, his best sophomore shooting performances came against Wofford and Connecticut when he dropped 9 and 8 three's respectively.

Vaughn was named team MVP on a team comprised almost entirely of junior college players. They continued to play hard-nosed defense and coaches started to notice Cronin's motivational skills.

JUNIOR YEAR

Coach Cronin played him as much as possible and the 1186 minutes logged in 2008-2009. It ranks fifth all-time behind Andre Tate, Louis Banks, Kenny Satterfield, and Steve Logan.

While Vaughn continued to improve so too did the players around him, namely Rashad Bishop and Alvin Mitchell. The supporting cast became slightly better though the high end talent remained below Big East average.

The one player who instantly made waves for the program was local recruit Yancy Gates. With 10.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg in Big East play Gates gave Cincinnati a true post presence for the first time since Cronin ascended to the throne.

With Gates serving as sidekick to Vaughn, UC turned the corner. Were it not for three unforgivable losses to end the season to South Florida, Seton Hall, and DePaul Cronin might have taken his troops to the NCAA Tournament.

Vaughn earned his second team MVP award following his junior campaign. He could join the great Oscar Robertson as a three-time team MVP with a powerful conclusion to his senior campaign.

SENIOR YEAR

Recruited to be the PG his first year off the ball was this his final season for several reasons. Cashmere Wright missing 2008-2009 with a knee injury disallowed Vaughn's anticipated move away from the ball.

Fewer touches on the ball means less scoring. If the other Bearcats elevated their games accordingly the team's balance might be fine. Unfortunately for UC, the supplementary players rarely supplement.

With just over two made bombs per in the last eight games, Vaughn will become the greatest three-point shooter in Cincinnati Bearcats history. His tally of made 3-point field goals will have surpassed Darnell Burton. With a month to play Cronin's first UC recruit bumped Field Williams, LaZelle Durden, and Steve Logan down the list.

Intriguingly, Vaughn could very well lead UC in scoring for the season again. For the entire season Lance Stephenson (12.0 ppg) and Vaughn (11.9 ppg) have been nudging back and forth for the UC scoring crown.

Should Vaughn hold on he would become the first UC player ever to lead the team in scoring all four years. The last UC player to lead the team in scoring three consecutive years, a fete Vaughn already accomplished, was Roger McClendon in 1984-1987.

It should be mentioned freshmen did not become eligible to play collegiate basketball until 1972.

Other point guards in the class of 2006 who were rated similarly to Vaughn include a wide assortment of current and former Big East players. Doug Wiggins, Scottie Reynolds, Edgar Sosa, Will Walker, David Cubillan, Malcom Grant, and Jeremiah Rivers all entered college with slightly better accolades than Vaughn.

Only Scottie Reynolds obviously enjoyed a better college career. Grant, Wiggins, and Rivers all transferred out of their initial Big East destination. Cubillan became a forgotten man in Milwaukee for Marquette. Will Walker has been a nice albeit streaky player for DePaul.

Looking back Cronin would likely acknowledge Vaughn was a good building block for his program.

From Vaughn's perspective the postseason struggles will haunt his memories for years to come. Players always enjoy getting the shine from postseason appearances. The publicity increases and the exposure feels good, warming.

Vaughn barely sniffed at the postseason in his first three years. Two Big East Tournament first round losses and a CBI early exit hardly provide him with material to share with his grandchildren.

A NCAA-berth for UC would elevate his place in Cincinnati history immeasurably. A player with the talent of Vaughn could add interest to casual sports fans while engaging the strong, proud UC fanbase.

His legacy rests in the hands of current teammates Lance Stephenson and Cashmere Wright. Less than a month remains and UC is absolutely on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament right now.

He has displayed late game heroics several times in his career. Now is the time for a streak of late career heroics for Coach Cronin's first UC recruit, Deonta Vaughn.