Deedy making his mark at the next level

Houma native Davaughn “Deedy” Gauno signed with Angelina College out of high school in hopes of playing there two years, then jumping to a Division I program.

So far, that plan is working and the local standout is showing himself capable of having success at the next level.

Gauno is shining in his first collegiate season with the Road Runners, including several solid games that have helped his team secure victory.

At press-time, Gauno is averaging 14 points per game (second on his team), while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 41.0 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Angelina is 9-4 on the season and Gauno said he signed with the team because he felt at home around the Roadrunners’ players and coaches.

The school is located in Lufkin, Texas.

“It is just a good fit,” Gauno said this past spring when announcing his decision to sign with the team. “The attitude of everyone was great and the people were welcoming. I’m appreciative of all the interest I had from other schools, but I knew that Angelina was a place that I wanted to be.”

So far, the marriage has been beneficial for both sides.

Gauno has been an instant impact player for the Roadrunners, showcasing his elite scoring ability, despite his small, undersized frame.

The Terrebonne High School graduate scored double-digits in four-straight games to open the season, including a 28-point showing in an 82-69 win over South Plains College on Nov. 5.

In that game, Gauno shot 6-of-13 from the field and 5-of-9 from behind the arc. South Plains College couldn’t stay in front of Gauno, which forced fouls and allowed him to attempt 14 free throws in the game.

Gauno continued his strong play into late-November, but he was sidelined for three games from Nov. 24-29 with a minor injury.

But in his return on Dec. 2, Gauno had another strong showing, posting 18 points to help the Roadrunners secure an 81-76 victory over Tyler Junior College.

For Gauno, points and offense are nothing new because this is something he’s done his entire career.

With Terrebonne, Gauno was instant offense – one of the best players in the storied history of Tigers’ basketball.

He played since his underclassman days, earning time because of his ability to score the ball –even if several feet behind the 3-point line.

As a junior, Gauno transformed from a contributing player to a star player, posting several high-scoring games for Terrebonne, even eclipsing the 40-point barrier on a couple occasions.

As a senior, Deedy and the Tigers soared to a 20-win season. Gauno averaged more than 20 points per game and earned All-State honors.

Along the way, he helped Terrebonne push itself to the second round of the Class 5A State Playoffs.

“He’s a playmaker,” former Terrebonne coach Derek Szush said during last season while still the Tigers’ coach. “He makes things happen. He can score in bunches and he really gets all the guys going. And I think more important than all of those things, he’s just a really good kid. He works hard and he wants to see our team and his teammates do well.”

Out of high school, Gauno fielded light interest from Division I coaches, but his offer list was thin, which turned his eyes toward the junior college ranks.

Gauno had offers from several junior college and decided to pick Angelina after a lengthy recruitment.

He said openly throughout his recruitment that he felt disrespected and underappreciated to not have more offers with the stats and body of work he’d accumulated during his time at Terrebonne.

But he also understood that he could silence a lot of critics with a big two years at Angelina, which would then open doors for a bright, prosperous future.

So far, so good.

Gauno is scoring points in droves and is helping his team win.

Now, the goal is to keep doing more of that in the future, before moving on to the next stop, while continuing to prove critics wrong – every step of the way.

“I know what I can do,” Gauno said. “All I need is opportunity to show it on the floor.”

Deedy Gauno

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