Top Shot-Sophia Young is the NCAA’s Big 12 Player of the Year

She was the unanimous choice among college basketball coaches for the top accolade announced last week. The Layou-born Vincentian, Sophia Young led her conference in scoring this season. Her record shows an average of 21.7 and 22.5 in scoring; 9.9 and 10.1 in rebounding; shot 57.3 and 55.3 percent and blocks 1.07 and 1.19 per game. She also docked in third in rebounding and second in steals. {{more}}

The coaches gave the senior player the nod over her strongest contender Courtney Paris of Oklahoma.Paris led the conference in rebounding, was second behind Young in scoring and first in block shots.

Young, a Baylor Bears forward, was also named in the Big 12 first team. And, the former national Under-16 netballer keeps tumbling the records. Young is the Big 12 all time career leader in rebounding. She stood on 1255 rebounds going into her last match. She was also expected to surpass Kendra Wecker’s (of Kansas State) record of 2333 points to become the league’s career scoring leader. Young needed a mere three points prior to a Big 12 match last Wednesday against Dallas.

In addition, Young is in line for the Wooden Award. She was among twenty players short-listed for the mid- season award, and one of thirty in on the mid-year Naismith Award list. Young led Baylor to the championship last year in her sophomore year, and was named Most Valuable Player. Lady Bears is the hot favourite to repeat that feat. Young, in her final year on the collegiate circuit, is the team’s Vice Captain.

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

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