Sasha Kaun

infobox Euroleague Player

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caption =
name = Sasha Kaun
Саша Каун
nickname =
position = Center
spouse =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 10.5
weight_lbs = 250
league = Russian League
Euroleague
nationality = Russian
team = CSKA Moscow
number =
birth_date = birth date and age|1985|5|8
birth_place = Tomsk, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, USSR
highschool = Florida Air Academy
Melbourne, Florida
college = Kansas
draft = 2nd round, 56th overall
draft_year = 2008
draft_team = Seattle SuperSonics
career_start = 2008
career_end =
former_teams =
awards =

Aleksandr Olegovich "Sasha" Kaun (Russian: Александр Олегович "Саша" Каун, pronounced Kahn, born May 8, 1985, in Tomsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union), is a Russian professional basketball player for CSKA Moscow. Kaun played for the University of Kansas in college for four seasons, including the 2007-2008 national championship team. Kaun was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 56th overall pick. His rights were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for cash considerations.

College career

Kaun began his basketball career with the NCAA basketball team Kansas Jayhawks. After four years there he won the NCAA title in 2008. During his senior year, he was the back-up center for the Jayhawks. At the Florida Air Academy he led his team to a 23-0 record which led him to the Florida championships.In high school, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game as a junior and 15.3 points and 12.6 rebounds per game as a senior.

During fall of 2003 Sasha elected to play college basketball for Bill Self at Kansas. Duke and Michigan State also recruited him heavily. During his freshman season playing for Kansas he played in 27 games, starting twice. Sasha ended his sophomore season at KU 25-8 overall with many starts and also helped the Jayhawks to a 80-68 win against the Texas Longhorns which made Kansas Jayhawks the 2006 Big 12 Conference champions. He graduated with a degree in computer science and was selected to the Academic All Big 12 Basketball Team three times, in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Professional career

Kaun has signed a three year contract with PBC CSKA Moscow. [ [http://www.kansascity.com/166/story/676055.html Former KU center Kaun signs with Russian team] ] [ [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/33301/180/cska-signs-terence-morris-sasha-kaun CSKA signs Terence Morris, Sasha Kaun] ] CSKA will pay Kaun about $1.6 million USD net salary per year. [ [http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062408aaa.html Kaun signs with CSKA] ]

Since signing the contract with PBC CSKA Moscow, Kaun was drafted 56th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. He was the final draft pick in Sonics history. Contract rights were then traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kaun will begin his career in Russia, with the Cavaliers retaining the rights to him if he should decide to move to the NBA.

Russian national team

Kaun was a member of the Russian national basketball team before being replaced on the roster by Viktor Khryapa.

Awards/achievements

*NCAA Champion - 2008

References

External links

* [http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/kaun_sasha00.html Sasha Kaun at the official athletics website of the University of Kansas]
* [http://www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?157250 Interview] ru icon