Tiger Rag News Services
LSU basketball Coach Matt McMahon signed 6-foot-8 forward Marcus Vaughns of Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday – the fist day of the early signing period that runs through Nov. 19.
Vaughns, who is not ranked by 247sports.com, plays for the Centre of Excellence development program in Australia and recently was part of the NBA Global Academy and Basketball Without Borders during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February. The NBA Global Academy provides development for top high school-age players outside the United States through basketball skills, education, and life skills.
From “The Land Down Under” to The Boot 🇦🇺🐅
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) November 12, 2025
Marcus Vaughns is an LSU Tiger!@MarcusVaughns13 | #BootUp pic.twitter.com/DS7EjegriE
“We are excited to welcome Marcus Vaughns to Louisiana State University,” McMahon said. “Marcus is an incredibly humble talent from Australia who will bring versatility to our program. He is skilled and smart with the ability to play multiple positions. His international experience will benefit him as he makes the transition to college. I love his spirit and appreciation for the opportunity to come to Louisiana and represent the Tigers.”
McMahon’s Tigers (2-0) host Florida International (1-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday on SEC Network+.
Vaughns participated in the G-League Showcase in 2024 and was named the MVP of the 2024 NIKE All-Asian camp. He is the son of Brian Vaughns, who was a fifth-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1987 NBA Draft from UC-Santa Barbara. He later played for years in Australia’s National Basketball League and in Europe for several seasons.
Vaughns is part of McMahon’s No. 15-ranked Class of 2026.
STORY UPDATE: LSU SIGNS 2 MORE COMMITMENTS
Two other commitments from that class signed later Wednesday. Those were No. 29 small forward Kevin Thomas (6-7, 195) of Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, and No. 44 small forward Herly Brutus (6-5, 180) of The Villages Charter School in The Villages, Florida.
Thomas has a 6-10 wingspan and is ranked No. 56 by ESPN.com and No. 71 by 247Sports.com. ESPN.com also ranks him No. 23 nationally at small forward. He is currently part of the 2025–26 Montverde team that was ranked preseason No. 5 in the national high school poll by MaxPreps. Last season, he played at Sagemont Prep in Weston, Florida, averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 steals as the school won the Florida Class 1A state title.
“Kevin Thomas is an athletic wing who will bring perimeter scoring and explosiveness to our program,” McMahon said. “Like our other signees, Kevin has great size and the versatility to defend multiple positions on the court. His ability to shoot the three and attack the basket off the bounce will fit in well with our offensive system.”
Thomas was part of the USA Basketball Training Camp in Colorado Springs last month and was invited to attend this year’s USA Men’s Junior National Team minicamp in San Antonio, Texas. Playing for SoH Elite on the Under Armour AAU Circuit this past summer, he averaged 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He shot 40 percent from the field, including 32 percent from distance.
Brutus, a four-star recruit, was part of the 2024 NIKE Elite 100 and participated in the PRO16 League as well as the Jay Bilas Skills Camp. He is ranked at No. 82 on the ESPN college basketball rankings.
“Herly is a big, physical wing with a seven-foot plus wing span,” McMahon said. “He will make an impact on both ends of the court, but I was especially impressed with his defensive instincts and competitiveness. His combination of length, athleticism, and a high motor will be exciting for our fans to watch.”
His Villages High School team is ranked No. 14 by MaxPreps, as Brutus helped the team to the state finals a year ago. He was named Class 3A All-State Tournament after averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds a contest. In the PRO16 League for Tre Mann Elite, he averaged 15.5 points, seven rebounds, two assists and shot 48.6 percent from the floor.
Brutus carried a 3.9 GPA into this school year. He attended Umatilla High School for two years prior to attending The Villages.
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