Sophia Young heading for record books

Vincentian basketballer, Sophia Young is on the verge of entering the record books in the NCAA championships in the US.

The senior player at Baylor University, Young is in touching distance of etching her name among an elite band, those who have recorded 2,000 points, pulled down in excess of 1,000 rebounds, 300 steals and another 300 assists in their college tenure. {{more}} Already, Young, six foot one inch in height, has 1,089 rebounds to her credit. She stands on 1954 points, 260 steals and 258 assists, and with more matches still to go; Young is on course to do so.

And, she keeps mounting the records as she is two points adrift from the status of the number three all time top scorer in Baylor’s history.

Young has scored double digits in 107 out of her 116 appearances for her Baylor. Included in that is 56 consecutive double digit scoring. She has an average of 21 points per game as well as 10.2 rebounds.

The Layou-born Young, a former national Under-16 netballer, who migrated five and half years ago to the United States, is one of the leading lights in the NCAA. She led Baylor to the championship last year in her sophomore year and her team the Lady Bears, is a favourite to repeat that feat. The 2004 – 2005 season was when she reveled in awards. She was the MVP Big 12,2005 NCAA Most Outstanding Player, 2005 Tempe Regional MVP among others. Also Young was the first player in Baylor’s history to be honoured by the Writers’ organisation.

Young, who turned 22 last December, is expected to be a top draft pick for the WNBA later this year and elevate to professional status.

Preceding this, Young will graduate in May and receive her teaching credentials.

She will become the second Vincentian to do so, following the footsteps of Sancho Lyttle, who was drafted last year by the Houston Comets.