March 28, 2006

WACO, Texas - Senior Sophia Young earned Associated Press All-American first team honors it was announced today. By being named to the elite five-person first team, Young becomes Baylor's first-ever basketball first team AP All-American. She was a second team selection in 2005.

The 6-1 forward from St. Vincent in the Grenadines set four Big 12 career records this season becoming the league's all-time leader in scoring (2,480), rebounding (1,316), double-doubles (61) and rebounding average (9.5). In addition, she is one of only four players who have tallied 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 steals and 300 assists in their NCAA Division I careers. The elite group includes Cheryl Miller (USC), Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamicha Catchings (Tennessee). Young finished her career with 2,480 points, 1,316 rebounds, 315 steals and 303 assists.

This season Young led the Big 12 in scoring (22.2) and ranks No. 2 in steals (71), No. 3 in rebounding (10.0) and double-doubles (17), No. 4 in field goal percentage (.551) and No. 15 in blocks (33). In addition she ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring.

Young's 2006 awards to date include:

• Big 12 10th Anniversary Team (only active player named to the five person squad)
• Big 12 Player of the Year
• AP All-American (first team)
• All-Tournament team Albuquerque Regional
• Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team (third straight year)
• Wooden Award Finalist
• Wade Trophy Finalist
• Naismith Trophy Watch List
• All-Big 12 first team (third straight year)
• All-Big 12 Defensive team
• Bayer Senior CLASS Award Finalist
• Big 12 Player of the Week (three-time)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (4.0 GPA)

"You only have five players selected to the first team and it's the first time that Baylor basketball, men or women, has had a first team AP All-American. That speaks volumes about Sophia, this is a tremendous honor. What a great senior season she had, she carried us on her shoulders and basically willed this basketball team to a Sweet 16 by what she did on that basketball floor," said head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson.

"To be named as one of the top five players in the country is amazing," Young said. "It is a tremendous accomplishment and I feel extremely blessed."

2006 AP All-America
First team:
• Seimone Augustus, LSU, senior
• Ivory Latta, North Carolina, junior
• Cappie Pondexter, Rutgers, senior
• Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, freshman
• Sophia Young, Baylor, senior

Second team:
• Jessica Davenport, Ohio State, junior
• Monique Currie, Duke, senior
• Candice Wiggins, Stanford, sophomore
• Candace Parker, Tennessee, freshman
• Crystal Langhorne, Maryland, sophomore

Third team:
• Sylvia Fowles, LSU, sophomore
• Tasha Humphrey, Georgia, sophomore
• Khara Smith, DePaul, senior
• Kim Smith, Utah, senior
• Candice Dupree, Temple, senior

Other Baylor basketball players receiving AP All-American honors:
1979 - Vinnie Johnson (second team)
1982 - Terry Teagle (second team)
1988 - Michael Williams (honorable mention)
2005 - Sophia Young (second team) & Steffanie Blackmon (third team)