Maughmer ready to shine on the court at Cedarville alongside older brother
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (BVM) — The Maughmer family is no stranger to success on the hardwood. After a standout career at Chillicothe High School, Branden Maughmer has excelled for the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets over the last two years. Now, after a decorated high school career as well, younger brother Jayvon is ready to do the same.
Starting the sport in second grade, Jayvon was instantly fueled by the competitiveness he had with Branden. One-on-one battles in the driveway as kids helped each get better while growing a love for the sport.
“The way we were so competitive when we were younger just made me want to get better every single day,” Jayvon said.
At the same time, whether it was those competitive battles in the driveway, or now playing college basketball, both brothers are sure to offer each other support and enjoy seeing each other excel on the hardwood.
“I know the support is also there because we would do anything for each other, on or off the court,” Jayvon added. “We’ve just wanted to see each other get better everyday.”
After a special high school career at Chillicothe that saw Branden earn all-state honorable mention and conference player of the year honors twice — while also scoring over 1,000 career points — he has now starred the last two seasons on the court at Cedarville.
As a freshman, Branden averaged 14.1 points per game while starting all 33 contests for the Yellow Jackets. He upped his scoring average to 15 points per game last season, becoming a NCCAA All-American Second Team player, in addition to being named to the All-NCCAA Midwest Region First Team.
Despite Branden’s success, the jury is still out on who is the better athlete between he and Jayvon.
“I mean, he’s a pretty good athlete, but not better than me,” Jayvon said with a laugh.
In addition to always having his brother in his corner, the support he has gotten over the years from his parents is part of what Jayvon credits for getting him where he is today. With their grandpa as a bishop and their father as a pastor, the brothers grew up around the church, and are thankful for their upbringing.
“My mom has done everything for us,” Jayvon said. “She provides for us, takes care of us, she just does everything and I will forever love her for all she has done. And my dad just showed us how to become a young man in today’s world,” Jayvon added. “He gives us pointers and motivates us every day.”
Jayvon’s career on the hardwood began by playing for his local youth team in Chillicothe, Ohio. It was at that point that he was exposed to success right away, as his team would win league championships four times in a row from his third to his sixth grade years.
At the start of his career at Chillicothe High School, Jayvon was used fairly sparingly. After playing just a couple of quarters on varsity as a freshman, the 19-year-old became more of a role player in his sophomore season, doing whatever the Cavaliers needed him to do.
However, after Branden and his 2018 class graduated, everything changed for Jayvon. Needing more scoring impact and leadership on the team, Jayvon transformed his game, averaging 15 points per contest as a junior. The special season would lead to conference player of the year and All-Ohio honors.
“It was kind of surprising just knowing that was a big honor,” Jayvon said about winning conference player of the year. “But I couldn’t have done anything without my team. They helped me get to that point, it was a collective effort.”
The 6-foot-5 forward maintained his success into his senior year, again averaging 15 points per game to go along with seven rebounds. Although the season did not end the way the Cavaliers wanted it to, Jayvon believes it was a beneficial year in which the team showed they could stack up with some of the top competition in the state.
Throughout the Maughmer brothers’ years of playing at Chillicothe, they have had the chance to learn under coach Eric Huffer, who has meant a lot to both of them.
“Coach Huffer was always pushing us to be the best we could be,” Jayvon mentioned. “He would always be hard on everyone because he knew how much talent we had each year.”
Jayvon also had the opportunity to play around some special talent during his time as a Cavalier. Specifically, he played alongside Tre Beard and Brandon Noel — the latter of which will be playing for Wright State this winter.
Playing alongside those two for some time in AAU ball as well, Jayvon credits the chemistry he has with them in addition to guys like Vincent Roper and the rest of the Cavalier players for their success.
“It was great playing with those guys and all my other seniors on the team,” the 19-year-old said. “Me, Tre and Brandon had been playing together for a while in AAU so we had a connection. Getting to all play high school ball together was truly a blessing. We all had a connection on the team from guy one to 15. We all bought in and you don’t see that from many teams, but that team was special.”
As much as he’ll cherish his high school career, Jayvon is about to start his time on the hardwood at the next level with Cedarville University. Despite a lot of college looks and nine official offers, Jayvon was sold on joining the Yellow Jackets.
Its official!!😬 I would like to announce that i will be continuing my academic and basketball career at Cedarville University!🥶 @CedarvilleMBB @3stopsnarow pic.twitter.com/EjKyutW2F8
— Jayvon Maughmer (@j_maughmer) August 5, 2019
“The main thing that attracted me to Cedarville was the team and how everyone got along and how good of a connection they had together on the court,” Jayvon said.
Of course, having the chance to play with Branden another two seasons — and perhaps for the final time competitively in their careers — was a drawing factor as well.
“It’s going to be fun playing two more years with my brother,” Jayvon added. “A lot of people don’t get that type of opportunity.”
While a member of the Yellow Jackets, Jayvon hopes to replicate the same team bond and closeness his teams at Chillicothe had over the years. But of course, winning is the main goal, and he hopes he and his team can bring a championship to Cedarville.
Ultimately, Jayvon hopes he can take his career one step further after college and play professionally. It’s an opportunity not many people have, but with hard work and dedication, he believes both he and Branden could find themselves in the pro ranks someday.
“Playing professional basketball is a big dream of mine,” Jayvon said. “It’s going to take hard work and determination on and off the court, in the classroom and in the weight room. What is done behind closed doors that people don’t see is what will get me to my dreams. It would mean a lot to the both of us to get there and also our parents because they raised us to be great young men. We give all the glory and thanks to God and our parents.”
No matter where the sport takes Branden and Jayvon in the future, it is what Jayvon loves most about the sport that he has been able to enjoy over the last few years.
“What I have come to love about basketball is the relationships you build with your teammates and how you all have to come together to accomplish your goals.”
Coming together is what the brothers will do once again at Cedarville, and just maybe professionally someday as well.
