2020-21 • GRADUATE SEASON
Awards: Academic All-Big Ten.
Season: Saw action in five games, finishing with 1.4 points and 0.2 rebounds per contest.
St. Francis (PA) (11/30): Scored her first points in a Penn State uniform, finishing with four points, a rebound and a steal. Wisconsin (2/7): Hit a three-pointer in five minutes of action.
2019-20 SEASON
Missed season due to injury.
AT WEST VIRGINIA (2016-19)
Graduated from West Virginia in three years with a bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise psychology...Redshirted her freshman season in 2016-17 before seeing game action in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons...Played in 46 games as a Mountaineer, totaling 66 points, 47 rebounds, 24 assists, 19 steals and 345 minutes.
HIGH SCHOOL
Rated as the nation’s No. 27 point guard in her class coming out of high school by ESPN HoopGurlz..Guided Lakota West High School to a 93-13 record during her four years, including a 38-game win streak...Finished her high school career with 1,270 points, 400 rebounds, 209 steals and a program-record 268 assists...Put together an outstanding senior year, averaging 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.4 assists per game, while shooting 51.6 percent from the field...Led team to a 26-2 record as a senior and was named the 2016 Associate Press Ohio Co-Player of the Year...Lakota West finished third in the Ohio Associated Press Poll and 15th in the ESPNW national rankings during her senior year...Wrapped up high school career as a three-time first team All-Conference honoree and was an Ohio nominee for the McDonald’s All-American game...Guided high school squad to its first state championship in 23 years in 2015 in addition to district and regional championships.
PERSONAL
Full name is Nia MarKayla Staples…Daughter of Mark and Ja-Rhonda Staples…Has a twin brother named Ja’Lon…Pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Rehab and Mental Health Counseling while at Penn State…Born on August 28, 1997 in Louisville, Kentucky.
WHY NIA CHOSE PENN STATE
“I chose Penn state because I saw an opportunity to gain a valuable education as a graduate transfer student-athlete and to be a part of a well-respected women’s basketball program and a staff that prides itself on developing players not only on the court but off the court. My decision to be a part of the Penn State family is definitely attributed to the high values that Coach Kieger, Coach Boggess, and the entire coaching staff expressed in their faith seeing my ability to contribute to a program and a team built on tradition, hard work and excellence. I recall during my several telephone conversations before making my official visit that I immediately felt the love and genuineness and sincerity in both Coach Kieger and Coach Boggess’ voices. Once I arrived for my official visit, the entire coaching and support staff were so very welcoming and, in my heart, I knew it was the right fit for me. Because Coach Kieger has such a love and strong passion for the game, I was convinced that she would help me to get to the next level of my game. Starting new at Penn State is my opportunity to build great and long-lasting relationships with my new team and coaches that will grow while on the court and once the ball drops. I am looking forward to this new faith journey.”