Classroom:Kaun is a computer science major and a two-time Academic All-Big 12 first team selection in 2005-06 and 2006-07 who has been nominated for academic All-American each of the last two years. He is on track to graduate in May 2008. He has participated in many extra academic activities, including taking part in a recent engineering robotic competion.
Character:A proven hard worker in the classroom and on the court, Kaun has started 37 games in each of the last two seasons for Big 12 regular-season and tournament championship teams. He leads by example and has become more of a vocal leader as a senior. He was born in Tomsk, Russia, and did not start playing basketball until he moved to Florida as a ninth grader. Since coming to the United States, he has lived away from his mother Olga, seeing her no more than once a year.
Competition:A two-year starter at center, Kaun is a defensive presence with shot blocking abilities. He has a career 54.5 shooting percentage from the field and was the recipient of the Clyde Lovellette Most Improved Player Award as a freshman, as voted by his teammates. Kaun continues to be a role player with the development of the underclass big men. He has proven he is a leader as he has started most every game for the last three seasons. He has been a part of three Big 12 regular-season championship teams and the last two Big 12 tournament champion squads. He ranked seventh in the Big 12 in blocked shots per game as a junior with a 1.37 average and was 10th in the league in blocked shots as a sophomore (1.09). He averages 5.7 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game for his career.