Kia Vaughn

USA Basketball Notes:

• Gold Medal: 2006 FIBA Americas U20 Championship.
•  Named to the 2007 USA U21 World Championship Team on June 15, 2007.
• A member of the 2006 USA U20 National Team that went 5-0 and won the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA Americas U20 Championship, which qualified the United States for the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship.
• Missed the first game due to an injury, but averaged a team fourth-best 11.8 ppg. and added 3.5 rpg. off the bench in under 17 mpg. in the USA's the final four contests; scored in double digits three times, including 15 points against the Bahamas and 14 points to go with six rebounds versus Mexico.
• Remained in Colorado Springs, Colo., following the 2004 Festival to participate in the 2004 USA Junior National Team Trials.
• Member of the 2004 USA Youth Development Festival East Team that went 1-4 and finished in fourth place.
• Ranked second among Festival participants for blocked shots (2.2 bpg.) and tied for 12th for rebounds (5.8 rpg.).

College Honors

• Named a 2007 Kodak/WBCA All-American and Kodak/WBCA All-Region 8.
• Tabbed 2007 Associated Press All-America honorable mention.
• Earned 2007 NCAA Tournament All-Final Four and All-Greensboro Regional Team honors.
• A 2007 All-Big East Conference first team selection.
• Earned 2007 All-Big East Tournament Team accolades.

College Notes

• Aided Rutgers in 2006-07 to a 27-9 record, the Big East Tournament title and the 2007 NCAA title game; started all 36 games and averaged 12.8 ppg. and 9.3 rpg.
• Averaged 6.1 ppg. and 7.0 rpg. as Rutgers finished the
  2005-06 season with a 27-5 record, advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and earned a 16-0 league record for the Big East regular season title.
• Finished the 2006-07 season ranked 17th (tie) among all NCAA Division I leaders for blocks (2.6 bpg.) and 22nd for field goal percentage (.557), and tied for the 10th top single-game blocked shots output with nine versus Mississippi (12/12/06).
• Finished the 2005-06 season ranked 31st among all NCAA Division I leaders for blocked shots (2.1 bpg.).
• Had six double-digit scoring games, six double-digit rebounding games and three double-doubles
• Recorded career highs of 17 points versus Old Dominion (12/9/05), 15 rebounds versus Louisville (1/21/06) and seven blocked shots twice, last versus West Virginia (3/6/06).

High School Notes

• Attended St. Michael's Academy (N.Y.), where she was named a 2005 McDonald's and WBCA High School All-American.
• Named 2005 Parade Magazine All-America third team and listed on Parade's 2004 All-America fourth team.
• Tabbed the 2005 Gatorade Circle of Champions New York Player of the Year.

The Inside Scoop

• Born on January 24, 1987, in her hometown of New York (Bronx), New York, daughter of Aja Elington, has seven brothers.
• KIA stands for Killer Instinct Always.
• Aspires to play in the WNBA and become a broadcaster and model.
• Room that best defines me: the living room, I love to watch TV and hang out with my family.
• Favorite takeout food: cheeseburger with fries.
• Favorite meal to make at home: fried chicken, mac & cheese, collard greens.
• If I could trade in my car for anything it would be: a card that says my mom can live forever. :-)
• The one thing I can't ever part with: my stuffed dog that I've had for 20 years.
• When I was five I wanted to be: a singer, dancer and hairdresser.
• On my bedside table is: my phone.
• If I could live in any city in the world it would be:New York.
• Favorite magazine: Essence.
• Always in my fridge: water and fruit.
• Always on my fridge: peanut butter.
• One piece of clothing I can't live without: my first pair of basketball shorts.
• Favorite sport aside from basketball: football.
• I can play: the drums (I'm not good though).
• Favorite basketball player: Sue Wicks.
• Best game I ever watched: Rutgers - Duke in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
• Best player I ever faced: myself.
• Most people don't know: I'm afraid of clowns and Ronald McDonald.
• I want to go one-on-one against: Olympian Dwyane Wade.
• Strangest place ever played hoops: in a gym in lower Manhattan that was no bigger than a shoe box and birds flew around as we played.
• When not playing hoops: I like to dance.
• Most interesting place ever visited: the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• My first overseas trip: was a trip to France when I was a junior in high school.