Vaughn Karvala’s shooting impresses in IU basketball’s summer workouts

• Alex Bozich

• 26m ago

 

Most of Vaughn Karvala’s highlights from his high school career showcase his ability to finish above the rim.

Listed at 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds, Karvala has produced no shortage of rim-rattling dunks over his high school career that began at Oregon High School in Wisconsin and concluded at Bella Vista Prep in Arizona.

He’s an explosive athlete unafraid to attack the rim when given the chance.

In IU’s practices in preparation for an upcoming trip to Lima, Peru, to participate in the FISU America Games, Karvala has exhibited that aggressiveness when attacking off the dribble.

More impressive last Thursday, however, was Karvala’s shooting stroke from the perimeter and the mid-range. In live drills, he shot the ball well, a portion of his game that isn’t discussed nearly as much as his high-flying dunks.

“I know my athleticism catches the eye a bunch,” Karvala said Thursday. “But I can still shoot it.”

The No. 57 player nationally in the final RSCI rankings for the 2026 class, Karvala was IU’s second commitment in its 2026 recruiting class.

“Honestly, whenever I got here on my visit, it was home right then,” Karvala said, recalling his official visit. “Just getting to know all the people that were there last year, getting to know Tucker, getting to know (coach) DeVries. Just getting to know everybody here, I just knew it was home for me.”

A native of Wisconsin, Karvala spent the first three seasons of his high school career at Oregon High School, where he broke the program’s all-time scoring record before going to prep school for his final season.

It was a similar route to the one taken by IU’s lone returning scholarship player, Trent Sisley. The Southern Indiana native starred for three seasons at Heritage Hills and finished his prep career at Montverde Academy in Florida.

As Karvala adjusts to his new home in Bloomington, he’s found himself leaning on Sisley for advice.

“Just because of how much experience he has here already, coming from his freshman year,” Karvala said. “And I’ve just been listening to him on what he has to say. Whether it’s offense, defense, whatever he needs you to do, he will tell you.”

One thing Karvala doesn’t have to be told is what he’ll need to do between now and the fall to earn minutes.

Karvala has been working to put on weight and build strength since arriving on campus about a month ago. He’s been in the weight room and eating “whatever we have in the locker room.”

Karvala’s talent is such that it’s not hard to envision him having a standout moment or two in his first college season. But as is the case with most freshmen in a sport that is now primarily dominated by experienced players, he knows he must get stronger to make a lasting impact.

“The biggest thing for me is just putting on weight,” Karvala said. “That’s my biggest thing, getting stronger, trying to play with these guys that are three, four years older than me. I have to get stronger, I have to get faster and everything.”

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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