Friends’ Central center Mikayla Vaughn joins 1,000-point club

When Mikayla Vaughn began playing basketball as a youth she never envisioned herself as someone who would receive interest from collegiate basketball coaches let alone leave an indelible mark on the Friends’ Central basketball program.

Yet here we are and the junior center has done just that. With 3:09 remaining in their eventual 67-54 win over host Radnor Jan. 6, Vaughn received a high arching pass from senior Iyanna McCurdy that she collected before making her familiar spin move and laying the ball up and in.

While this has been a play many Friends’ Central supporters have witnessed over the last three years this time meant something more. With that lay-up, Vaughn joined fellow teammate McCurdy along with distinguished alumni Mike Cook, Jonathan Lawton, Latifah McMullin, current boys basketball coach Ryan Tozer, current girls assistant coach Deb Charamella, Mustafa Shakur, Aaliyah Powell, Talia East, Devin Coleman and Amile Jefferson in the exclusive club.

“To reach this milestone is really meaningful,” said Vaughn, who became just the third junior in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. “It’s really special to reach this accomplishment in a win. If we had lost the game it would have been kind of bittersweet.”

Last season the roles for Vaughn and McCurdy were reversed in their contest at Chester when Vaughn fed McCurdy for her milestone basket.

“Receiving the pass from Iyanna meant a lot,” said Vaughn. “Last year I fed her and this year she fed me so it was kind of like a passing of the torch.”

McCurdy added, “It’s really great. Last year she fed me when I reached 1,000 points and this year I had an opportunity to feed her. I am really happy for her.”

“Really?,” Friends’ Central coach Phillip Annas replied when it was pointed out that Vaughn and McCurdy teamed up on both occasions when it came time for the milestone basket for each player. “It’s kind of a storybook ending. Anytime you have two players who compete so hard and have an opportunity to reward each other is special. It’s also not surprising they have teamed up for many highlight moments.”

Vaughn began playing basketball as a toddler but did not start taking the game seriously until she began attracting interest from colleges along with having a coaching staff that believed her abilities more than Mikayla herself.

“I was blown away when I learned what other people thought of my ability,” said Vaughn. “It was at that time I thought maybe I could play at the collegiate level.”

“Mikayla is a humble kid who is well grounded thanks to her family,” said Annas. “I would like to think a school like Friends’ Central has helped her stay grounded. Mikayla and assistant coach Kwame Byrd worked hard in the offseason and its nice to see it come to fruition.”

With one goal complete, Vaughn will continue to focus on the goal from the start of the season – competing for a second consecutive Friends’ Schools League title.