Sellout crowd sees ex-Tigers mix it up
As more than 2,500 University of Memphis basketball fans cheered on their favorite former Tigers during the first U of M alumni game Saturday, an inconspicuously dressed David Vaughn stood in a corner of the Elma Roane Fieldhouse with a smile on his face.
Now 42, Vaughn, who played for his uncle, former Tigers coach Larry Finch, at Memphis from 1991-95, had come to Saturday’s game to watch more than two dozen former Tigers, including ex-teammate Penny Hardaway put on a show for a good cause.
And like the other fans, he came away impressed after former Tigers sharpshooter Chris Crawford scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Blue Team to a 95-84 victory over a Jeremy Hunt-led White Team.
“Well, actually it was refreshing to see these guys; to see some of the new faces, get to know some of their names and see what they’ve done after they left school,” said Vaughn, who recently moved back to Memphis from Florida.
“It’s pretty good for the fans, too, to come out and see everybody. Elliot Perry and Andre Turner, I see those guys over there. They still look like they can play.”
The 6-foot-9 Vaughn looked like he still could, too, though it’s been more than a decade since he last played professional ball. Vaughn made $2.2 million over four seasons in the NBA (1995-99), but he eventually wound up homeless and living out of his car on the streets of Orlando.
Seven years later, he’s back in Memphis, having recently separated from his wife of 15 years. Though he remains unemployed, Vaughn seemed to be at peace Saturday with the roar of fans filling a sold-out Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
“I’m just kind of getting my life together pretty much; going in a new direction,” Vaughn said. “It’s been nice to get back home. I feel like I can smile again. It’s not easy to make it with everything going on in the world. So it’s been great getting back and seeing my family.”
U of M president Dr. David Rudd, athletics director Tom Bowen and coach Josh Pastner attended Saturday’s game, which was organized by Hunt and former Tigers guard Willie Kemp.
While Crawford lit up the White Team from the 3-point line, former Tigers D.J. Stephens, Joey Dorsey and Will Coleman thrilled the crowd with highflying dunks and some spirited trashtalking. Coleman had 19 points and Wesley Witherspoon added 15 for the Blue, while Hunt’s 21 led the White Team.
“It was fun to see everybody back and the fans coming out to support us like that. It was a great turnout,” Crawford said. “I’d been talking smack for two weeks now. I’m just glad to back it up.”
Hunt said he hoped to make the game an annual event. Some of the proceeds from Saturday’s game will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Kidney Foundation.
Hunt, Kemp, Coleman and Shawn Taggart visited St. Jude on Wednesday.
“We learned so much we didn’t know. It was humbling,” said Hunt, who had visited the hospital once before during his playing days with the Tigers. “It’s just like, ‘Man, we’ve got a lot to be thankful for.’
“Just seeing the line out there (before the game) and seeing the love and support that Tigers fans show for us, it’s amazing. It’s unbelievable, the help we had behind the whole thing as far as the university backing us, the president, coach Pastner, the AD, Penny helping us out with things. Words can’t explain how greatly appreciative me and Willie are of everybody that was a part of this.”