By Keith Henry

WASHINGTON- Not too many in professional sports get the opportunity to play for a team that is close to where they grew up. In Baltimore, Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken is the most well known of the lot. Raised in Aberdeen, Ripken eventually played for the Baltimore Orioles.

Krystal Vaughn, a native of Baltimore, was picked 34th in the WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. To Vaughn, it was a dream come true for the young lady who played her high school ball at Lake Clifton for head coach Delora Walker. Walker played college basketball at Coppin State. According to Vaughn, Coach Walker was one of many along the way that helped mold her into the person she is today. “It’s not even all about basketball. She taught me about self-discipline, responsibility and things like that. She taught me how to be respectful, look people in the eyes when you talk to them. The small things that will help you in the long run.”

Krystal was named to the Baltimore Sun team All-Baltimore City and second team All-Metro teams as a senior at Lake Clifton. Vaughn was a three time most valuable player for Lake Clifton. In addition to basketball, Vaughn played softball, volleyball and ran cross country.

Just like most of the young ladies of today, Vaughn dreamed of making it to this level. Vaughn stated, “It was a dream as a young child in high school. I just had the potential. I continue to work hard every day, day in and day out. It’s tough where I come from. Anybody would want out. If you stay focused and stay positive, things will come to you. So I just worked hard with the help of Coach Walker. She was there for me from the start. She never let me down and never gave up on me regardless of the situation.”

God has been a major factor in this young lady’s life as well. “It’s faith. You got to have faith in everything you do. It ain’t nothing wrong with going to church and praying about the things you do because a lot of people dream of this and they don’t get the opportunity. But it’s all about confidence and faith. Everybody has their different religions but the majority of people praise one God. And that’s with me. I feel that prayer helps everything. That’s the way I am.”

Vaughn didn’t get too much time in her freshman year at Virginia Commonwealth. But Krystal kept her nose to the grindstone and blossomed as a player for the Lady Rams as they advanced to the WNIT where they beat Charlotte in the first round and lost to Michigan in the second round this past season.

Now that Vaughn is at training camp, she is learning an immediate difference between college and pro-style play. “I’m learning that there is no break. Regardless of what it is, you work hard. You got to sacrifice, keep the intensity up, the things I’ve been doing. And I will keep doing that,” said Vaughn.

Vaughn is all focus when it comes to doing her job. Vaughn wants to stay positive and leave those negative thoughts off in the distance. Vaughn said, “I try not to think about getting cut and things like that and just go out and work hard, give it my all and the result will take care of itself.”

As the season started, Vaughn officially made the team. Dreams come true only when you set goals and work hard to achieve them. Krystal stands as a shining example of these values.

http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/krystal_vaughn/index.html?nav=page