By: Jordan Beaudoin I Published: April 8, 2025
Kean University has always set the bar high for student success in their academics and path of choice.
One student went above and beyond to be successful in her athletics career while attending college here.
Madison Vaughn’s exceptional performance on the court has earned her the prestigious title of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Co-Defensive Player of the Year this year. This recognition is not easily attained.
This award is given to the top defensive players in the NJAC women’s and men’s basketball leagues.
Vaughn is a 21-year-old senior at Kean University studying sociology. She plays forward and center on the team.
She had a tremendous final season to finish her collegiate career.
This season alone, her stats included 13.6 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, 2.4 blocks per game, and 1.6 assists per game.
That said, this past season, Vaughn was selected as the NJAC Player of the Week three times.
Vaughn is the fourth person in Kean program history to be selected for this award. She joins historical players such as Tiffany Patrick, who was selected in the 2009-10 season, and Shervon James, who was chosen twice, in the 2002-03 season and the 2003-04 season.
We spoke to Vaughn and the women’s basketball team head coach, Mandy King, about her acceptance and receipt of this award.
In her initial reaction, she was surprised when she received word that she had gotten the award.
“I was shocked, but I was excited,” Vaughn said.
She had worked hard for this and was surprised when the news came her way.
”I was like, ‘wow, I can’t believe this is happening from playing at least five minutes a game, and then I go in like my senior year playing at least 30 or 35 minutes and then being able to just, like, get that award.’” Vaughn added.
She has always had a support system behind her. This support was provided by Coach King, her team members, and her parents, who supported her as she received this award.
“I think my biggest supporter is probably my dad.” Vaughn said.
Vaughn’s father has been there for her at every chance he has gotten.
“He’s there at almost every game. I don’t think he has missed a game this year. He’s constantly texting me, calling me, telling me how proud he is of me, and telling me that I can really be bigger than I thought,” Vaughn said.
Her dad has always been one of her biggest supporters.
“He was the one telling me, ‘you can do this, you do that.’ And I’m just like, ‘I don’t think so. I don’t know.’ And then next thing you know, you talk like, that’s when I told him I had an award, and he was like, I like, ‘I knew you had it in you.’ So I would say he’s my best supporter;” Vaughn also added.
Coach King has also been very proud of Vaughn’s accomplishments this season and in the last few years.
King has been coaching basketball at Kean for the last 13 years. She has seen many girls come onto the team and spend time with them until graduation. She has also seen who they become after their basketball careers come to a close.
“Maddie worked hard for four years to have a season like this, and that’s so rare in today’s athletics culture,” King said.
King has stated that Vaughn has been great from the start and couldn’t have had a better person earn this award.
“It’s just like that’s really rare, and it couldn’t happen for a better person,” King said.
Not only did Vaughn win the award, but another team member, center Brittany Graff, also received an honorable mention for this year.
This is Graff’s third time getting mentioned after being selected to the second team for the past two seasons while playing for the college.
Coach King also commented on Graff’s mention.
“Oh, yeah, Britt has been the heart and soul of our program for five years,” King said.
Graff has received a lot of praise from everyone on the team, including her coach.
“She has done a lot for this program; there won’t be enough to reflect all she has meant to us. She did a great job of driving our culture and making everybody around her better. We’ve just been at the top of the NJAC,” King stated.
She spoke a little bit more about Graff.
“This year, we had a little bit of a setback. But it was almost like, nearly, this year, her leadership meant even more because we had so much, we had a lot of injuries.” King added.
She could not be happier with how she had been with the team just as Vaughn has.
“It impacted us and her ability to continue showing up daily, lead with positive energy, and lift everyone around her. She was the driving force behind us,” King said.
Even Vaughn commented on Graff’s impact on the team.
“Without her, there would be no Kean women’s basketball,” Vaughn said.
This off-season, Vaughn will take a break and finish up her degree. She may be graduating, but they may also try to extend her contract for another season.
“I am playing in a rec league for fun. We’re currently trying to see if I have another year of eligibility. So we’re trying to see if that can happen,” Vaughn said.
Despite a challenging end to the season with a conference playoff exit to The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), the team has shown remarkable resilience. They are holding their heads high and preparing for the next season with renewed determination.
The team is not resting on its laurels. It is committed to its sport and meets for off-season practices, team building, and strength training, all in preparation for another season and a shot at the NJCA championship.
Kean doesn’t often see students achieve major awards like this; it only happens occasionally, but when they do, it is truly something wonderful to celebrate.
Vaughn and Graff will graduate in May this year, but they will forever be remembered as two of Keans’ most incredible women’s basketball players.