(Enlarge) Laurel High graduate John Vaughan, shown here with George Mason last season, attended a pre-draft workout with the New York Knicks on June 15. He hopes to sign with a pro team in Europe in the coming weeks. (file photo by Sarah Nix)

Brandon Jennings, who did not go to college, is an American who played pro basketball last season in Italy in his first year out of high school.

John Vaughn, an American who graduated from Laurel High School, just finished a four-year career at George Mason University and is likely headed overseas to play hoops this coming season.

The paths of the players with varied backgrounds crossed June 15 as both were among several players who worked out for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. Other players who worked out included Tyreke Evans (Memphis) and Earl Clark (Louisville), who along with Jennings are slated to be taken in the first round when the NBA draft is held June 25 at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

"I was a little nervous at first," Vaughan said June 22 about the New York workout. "I got real comfortable fast. It was good to go up against guys who are going to be lottery picks." Vaughan is not considered a draft pick but NBA teams like to bring in former college players to work out against top prospects before the draft.

A former basketball and football player at Laurel, Vaughan finished his four-year career at GMU this past season and graduated in May. The swing guard scored more than 1,000 points in his career and was one of the top defensive players in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Vaughan was working out in New Jersey the day before the Knicks' pre-draft session when he learned from his agent that New York wanted him to be part of the practice. His Connecticut-based agent is working on finding Vaughan a pro team in Europe, perhaps in Germany, The Netherlands or France.

"I am trying to get it done in the next month or so," Vaughan said. "Hopefully in the next few weeks I will know."

Vaughan has been in touch with several of his former Mason teammates who have played overseas, including Folarin Campbell (Italy), Will Thomas (Belgium) and Tony Skinn (France). Campbell is from Silver Spring, Thomas played at Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore and Skinn is from Takoma Park.

Marcus Hatten, who is Vaughan's cousin, played in college at St. John's and played this past season in Italy. Most American players with top teams in Europe get the free use of an apartment and car and make a tax-free salary that can eventually reach six figures after they work up to higher leagues.

Austen Rowland, a Pallotti High graduate, played this past season in Austria. He played in college at Delaware and Lehigh.

Other players with ties to Laurel who have gone overseas are Louis Bullock (Laurel Baptist Academy, Michigan), who played this past season for Real Madrid in Spain; Kenny Whitehead (Pallotti), who has been in several countries since playing in college at Charlotte and James Madison; Keith Lambkin (Pallotti, Canisius), who played in Germany in 2006-07; and Derrick Breland (Fordham), a former Pallotti student who played in Germany and Portugal two seasons ago.

Pallotti will get a new field

Pallotti High School will have a new field for soccer and football this fall at Fairland Regional Park, according to a school publication. The Panthers will be playing on Bermuda grass and bleachers at Fairland will hold 750 spectators. Lacrosse teams hope to use the field in the spring of 2010.

Laurel loses two games

The Laurel American Legion Post 60 baseball team played two games June 19 in the Bellefonte Showdown XXVII, held June 19-21 in State College, Pa. The U-19 tournament was played with wooden bats. Laurel uses aluminum bats during American Legion play.

Laurel beat the Middletown (N.Y.) Cobras, 8-5, and lost to the Nor-Gwyn (Pa.) Hawks, 7-0, in games played at the State College Babe Ruth Complex. Laurel's other games in the weekend tournament were rained out. Laurel is slated to play June 26 at 5:30 p.m. against Cissel Saxon at Blake High in Silver Spring.

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