Basketball star Rashad Vaughn will transfer from Cooper

Minnesota's "Big Three" of boys' high school basketball has become a "Big Two."

Rashad Vaughn and his family announced Monday that he won't return to Cooper High School for his senior season. Vaughn is currently searching for an out-of-state prep school to finish off his high school career.

Rumors of Vaughn, who is rated the 11th-best player in the country by ESPN, leaving his Minnesota high school began in late April. He declined to comment about his future at the time, but mentor Pete Kaffey said he was at Cooper "for now."

Vaughn's father, Troy, addressed the issue after last month's Nike circuit event at High Performance Academy in Eagan. He said Rashad wants to continue to get better and be a part of a winning program. They didn't know if they'd be able get that at Cooper and in the North Suburban Conference

. Vaughn also chose to leave Minnesota to compete in the Nike Elite Youth Baseball League. He played with Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Playground Elite.

Other members of the "Big Three" Tyus Jones (Apple Valley) and Reid Travis (DeLaSalle) played for the local Nike team, Howard Pulley.

Kaffey said this doesn't affect Vaughn's impressions of the University of Minnesota and new coach Richard Pitino. It's purely based on the desire to get better and play a national high school schedule.