Yonkers DiChiaro School Basketball Player Vaughn Meier recent received the honor of receiving the Dave DeBusschere Award recently at Madison Square Garden. Vaughn was among almost 5,000 other nominees and was selected based on the criteria of the award, “A student, age 11-14, who exemplifies the heroic characteristics of the late great Dave DeBusschere – a hardworking, caring, loyal, fun loving leader!
One Girl and One Boy who excels on the court and in the classroom are selected each year. The Winners are provided 4 tickets each and honored at center court of Madison Square Garden. In addition, the New York Knicks will provide an Equipment Donation to each winner’s school or community athletic center or basketball team, and each winner is granted a $500 dollar athletic shopping experience. Each Winner was also presently with a Knicks Jersey with Dave’s number 22 and their own name printed on the back.
Vaughn attends Yonkers’ Patricia A. DiChiaro School where his team recently won first place in the intramural basketball program and was honored as Most Valuable Player. “It was exciting to go to Madison Square Garden and stand on the court where so many of my favorite players have played, especially Dave DeBusschere” Vaugn Said, “I hope someday I can return to this court as a Knick”.
Dave DeBusschere starred at the University of Detroit before enjoying a 12-year career in the NBA. He began his career in his hometown of Detroit and played for 7 seasons before being traded to the Knicks in December 1968, simply known as “The Trade,” as the final piece of the franchise’s first championship team. He helped lead New York to the playoffs in each of his six seasons, including NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973. He was named to five NBA All-Star teams (1970-1974) and one All-NBA Second Team (1969). He retired as a Knick in 1974 before returning to the organization as executive vice president and director of basketball operations in 1982 where he presided for four seasons. He received the highest player-honor on Mar. 24, 1981, when his No. 22 jersey was retired to the rafters of The World’s Most Famous Arena. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983.
