BIO: Mitchell Young was born in Coffs Harbour (NSW) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Logan basketball program. Young received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2007. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2007, 2008, 2009).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Mitchell Young made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 23 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.

In 2013/14, Young averaged 4.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists as the Taipans finished in fifth place (12-16).

2014/15
Cairns entered 2014/15 after a 12-16 season had left the club fifth and outside the playoffs. Aaron Fearne remained head coach, with captain Alex Loughton, Mitchell Young, Cameron Gliddon, Cameron Tragardh, Stephen Weigh, Matt Burston and Shaun Bruce returning. Jamar Wilson (to Adelaide), Clint Steindl (to Townsville) and Demetri McCamey departed, while Scottie Wilbekin (via Florida), Torrey Craig (via USC Upstate) and Corey Maynard (via Bryant) were added before the season.

The forward entered the second season of the two-year contract he had signed with Cairns after completing his college career at Saint Mary’s, having also spent the 2014 off-season playing for the Cairns Marlins in the QBL.

Young (2.7 points across 32 games) appeared in every Cairns game, but operated almost entirely as reserve frontcourt depth after averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds the previous season. He came from the bench in 31 of his 32 appearances, with his lone start coming against Melbourne on October 17. Young finished that game with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal as Tragardh (18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) and Weigh (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) helped Cairns win 88-73, while Jordan McRae (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) led Melbourne.

His highest-scoring game came against Sydney on November 1, when Young (9 points and 2 rebounds) made 4-of-6 field goals in 15 minutes. Wilbekin (15 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Gliddon (13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) led the Taipans, while Kendrick Perry (17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) was Sydney’s best. Cairns outscored the Kings 31-8 in the fourth quarter to win 74-62 and complete a 6-0 start to the season.

Young produced his best performance of the season against defending champion Perth on January 24, finishing with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists while making three of four field-goal attempts and both free throws in 14 minutes. Craig (21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks) and Wilbekin (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists) powered Cairns, while DeAndre Daniels (14 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist) led Perth. The Taipans turned a one-point lead after three quarters into a 92-66 victory by outscoring the Wildcats 31-6 in the fourth, their fifth straight win during a six-game winning streak.

Cairns’ depth changed during January after Maynard suffered a left-thumb injury and Bruce also missed time, with training player Nathan Sobey subsequently elevated into the squad. Maynard returned before the postseason, while Sobey remained in the active group for the finals.

Wilbekin (15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across 32 games) led Cairns in scoring and assists, won the club MVP award and earned All-NBL First Team honours. Tragardh (12.1 points and 4.8 rebounds across 32 games) was named NBL Best Sixth Man, while Loughton (11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds across 32 games), Gliddon (10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 32 games), Craig (8.9 points and 5.7 rebounds across 32 games) and Weigh (8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds across 32 games) supplied the other major contributions. Fearne was named NBL Coach of the Year as Cairns finished 21-7 and claimed the first minor premiership in club history, becoming the first regional team since Geelong in 1984 to finish on top of the NBL ladder.

Fourth-placed Perth visited Cairns for game one of the semifinals, where Young played 5:32 and finished with 0 points and 0 rebounds. Wilbekin (23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Tragardh (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Taipans, while Jermaine Beal (20 points and 4 rebounds) and Daniels (14 points and 4 rebounds) paced Perth. The Wildcats erased a 13-point halftime deficit and briefly moved ahead late, but Cairns recovered to win 71-64 and take a 1-0 series lead.

Game two moved to Perth Arena, where Young finished with 0 points and 2 rebounds in 6:40 off the bench. Weigh (16 points and 3 rebounds) and Wilbekin (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Cairns, while Beal scored 21 points and Matthew Knight added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Perth. The Taipans won 80-68 to complete the semifinal sweep and advance to the second Grand Final series in franchise history.

Minor premier Cairns held home-court advantage against New Zealand in the Grand Final, but Young (5 points and 1 rebound) and the Taipans fell 86-71 in game one. Wilbekin scored 16 points and Gliddon added 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, while Cedric Jackson (22 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Ekene Ibekwe (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Breakers. Cairns reduced a 16-point halftime deficit to one by three-quarter time before New Zealand regained control in the fourth quarter.

Game two in Auckland saw Young finish with 3 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist in 13 minutes as Cairns fought to extend the series. Tragardh (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block) and Craig (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Taipans, while Thomas Abercrombie scored 19 points and Jackson added 15 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals for New Zealand. Wilbekin made two free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining to tie the game at 81-81, but Ibekwe caught the ensuing inbound pass and hit a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to give the Breakers an 83-81 victory and complete the 2-0 Grand Final sweep, denying Cairns its first NBL championship. Jackson was named Grand Final MVP.

TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES
2015/16
Townsville entered 2015/16 after finishing sixth with an 11-17 record before going into voluntary administration during the off-season and eventually being cleared to continue in the NBL. Todd Blanchfield (to Melbourne), Steven Markovic (to Sydney), Mickell Gladness, Jacob Holmes (retired) and Greg Vanderjagt (retired) departed, with Vanderjagt moving onto Shawn Dennis’ coaching staff. Brian Conklin, Clint Steindl, Mitchell Norton, Mirko Djeric and Leon Henry returned, while Dennis added Nicholas Kay (via Metro State), Luke Schenscher (via Adelaide), Corey Maynard (via Cairns) and import Jordair Jett, with reigning NBL MVP Conklin re-signed and appointed captain.

Townsville opened the season against Melbourne at the Townsville Entertainment Centre on October 9, where Young (2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block) came from the bench as United won 99-84. Conklin (25 points and 5 rebounds) and Steindl (13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Townsville, while former Crocodile Blanchfield (29 points and 8 rebounds) led Melbourne.

Young (4.9 points and 4.1 rebounds across 27 games) had joined Townsville (via Cairns) after two seasons with the Taipans and became a regular member of Dennis’ frontcourt rotation, making 12 starts. He appeared in 27 of Townsville’s 28 games, with his only absence coming against New Zealand on January 29. No injury or other reason for the missed game was reported in the available material.

Schenscher (4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds across 13 games) ruptured a ligament in his left ankle and also dealt with back problems, increasing Young’s opportunities in the frontcourt. Harry Froling (via Canberra AIS/Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence) (1.6 points across 9 games) had already made a brief appearance as a development player in the opener before being used as an injury replacement for Schenscher. Conklin (13.5 points and 6.6 rebounds across 13 games) was cleared after an elbow broke Damian Martin’s jaw before a second elbow incident involving Mitch Creek resulted in a three-match suspension, with two games suspended for the remainder of the season. With Townsville 4-10 at the end of November, Conklin was released after what the club described as “a number of sub-par performances.” “Unfortunately the club has terminated my contract and I will no longer be able to captain this club. All the best to the boys and coaches going forward,” Conklin said. Omar Samhan (via Texas Legends) (13.3 points and 8.9 rebounds across 12 games), who had played alongside Young at Saint Mary’s, was signed for the remainder of the season to replace Conklin. Maynard (6.1 points across 25 games) later suffered an ankle injury, leading former Crocodile Christopher Cedar (via Mackay) (1.5 points across 2 games) to return on a two-game injury-replacement contract.

Young’s best game and first of two season-high 10-point performances came against Cairns on December 2, where Young (10 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) made three of four field goals as Townsville defeated the Taipans 90-76. Jett (26 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Kay (16 points and 12 rebounds) led the Crocodiles, while Torrey Craig (18 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) was Cairns’ best.

Young (6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks) remained in the starting lineup against Adelaide on December 10 as Townsville recovered from 15 points down inside the final four minutes to win 101-100. Jett (21 points and 5 assists) and Kay (19 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the Crocodiles, while Jerome Randle (28 points and 7 assists) led Adelaide.

Jett (15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across all 28 games) finished as Townsville’s leading scorer and won the Kevin Sugars Medal as club MVP, while Steindl (12.7 points and 3.5 rebounds across all 28 games) was named NBL Most Improved Player and Kay (10.7 points and 6.6 rebounds across all 28 games) won Rookie of the Year. Norton (8.8 points across all 28 games) and Djeric (5.3 points across 24 games) were other regular contributors, while Dennis was named NBL Coach of the Year. Townsville went 7-7 following Conklin’s departure and finished 8-6 at home but managed only three road victories. The Crocodiles subsequently withdrew from the 2016/17 competition because of their financial position, leaving Young’s time with Townsville at one season before Young (to Brisbane) joined the returning Bullets.

Young’s final game for Townsville came against Sydney on February 13, where Young (4 points and 2 rebounds) played 14:42 from the bench as Samhan (25 points and 13 rebounds) and Steindl (25 points and 3 rebounds) led the Crocodiles, while Cadee (32 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the Kings as Townsville won 126-123 in double overtime and completed an 11-17 season.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2016/17
Brisbane returned to the NBL after an eight-season absence with Australian Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis appointed head coach and Adam Gibson named captain. Daniel Kickert (via Melbourne), Tom Jervis (via Perth), Anthony Petrie (via Adelaide), Torrey Craig (via Cairns), Cameron Bairstow (via Chicago) and Jermaine Beal (via Perth) were among the players added to the rebuilt roster. Young (via Townsville) joined Brisbane alongside Shaun Bruce (via Cairns) and Reuben Te Rangi (via New Zealand) on April 29 after the Townsville Crocodiles withdrew from the NBL, cutting short the contract he had signed with the Crocodiles the previous year. “Reuben, Mitch and Shaun all have proven NBL experience, but they still have the prime time of their basketball careers ahead,” Lemanis said.

The forward opened the season against defending champion Perth at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on October 6, finishing with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 19 minutes off the bench as Craig (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals), Beal (14 points and 4 rebounds) and Gibson (11 points and 2 steals) helped Brisbane win 72-65, while Jameel McKay (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Perth.

Young (5.5 points across 28 games) appeared in every game during his first season with Brisbane and did not miss a game through injury or illness. He came off the bench in Brisbane’s first 17 games before starting the final 11, finishing the season with 153 points and 79 rebounds while shooting 57.4 percent from the field.

Young’s best game came against New Zealand at Vector Arena on November 6, where Young (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists) made 5-of-10 shots and added four free throws in 19 minutes. Kirk Penney (30 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Breakers, with Alex Pledger (12 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks) controlling the paint as New Zealand defeated Brisbane 86-70.

Brisbane’s frontcourt was hit by injuries during December, increasing Young’s role. Bairstow (12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds across 13 games) tore the ACL in his left knee during an overtime loss to Illawarra on December 19 and was ruled out for the remainder of the season, while Petrie (7.1 points and 3.1 rebounds across 18 games) required surgery after suffering cartilage damage in his left knee and missed the final 10 games. Young moved into the starting lineup on December 26 and remained there for the rest of the season. Gibson (9.8 points and 3.8 assists across 21 games) later suffered a calf injury against Illawarra on January 13 and missed Brisbane’s final seven games. Jeremy Kendle (via Bendigo) joined as an injury replacement before Beal (11.2 points across 23 games) was released on January 21 following a decline in form, with Kendle (11 points across 7 games) then becoming part of the permanent roster.

Young recorded his season-high against Perth at Perth Arena on February 3, where Young (16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) made 8-of-10 shots in 18 minutes. Bryce Cotton (25 points) and Greg Hire (20 points) led Perth, which defeated the injury-hit Bullets 94-63.

Craig (15.2 points and 8 rebounds across 28 games) led Brisbane in scoring and rebounding, won the NBL Best Defensive Player award and earned All-NBL Second Team honours. Kickert (12.8 points and 4 rebounds across 28 games) joined Craig on the All-NBL Second Team and became the first player in NBL history to qualify for a 50-40-90 season, while Jervis (7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds across 28 games) and Bruce (5.9 points across 28 games) provided the other main contributions.

Brisbane’s season ended against Illawarra at WIN Entertainment Centre on February 11, where Young (6 points and 5 rebounds) made his 11th consecutive start as Craig (30 points and 18 rebounds) and Jervis (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) led Brisbane, while Oscar Forman (26 points) and Rotnei Clarke (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) powered Illawarra to a 106-79 win, leaving the Bullets eighth with a 10-18 record.

2017/18
After finishing eighth with a 10-18 record in their first season back in the NBL, Brisbane entered 2017/18 with Andrej Lemanis remaining head coach and Adam Gibson captain. Torrey Craig (to Denver), Jermaine Beal (to Israel) and Jeremy Kendle (to South West Metro) departed, while Daniel Kickert, Tom Jervis, Reuben Te Rangi, Anthony Petrie and Mitchell Young returned. Travis Trice (via Cairns), Stephen Holt (via Czech Republic) and Perrin Buford (via Italy) were added, while Cameron Bairstow remained sidelined while recovering from the ACL injury suffered the previous season.

Glandular fever delayed Young (4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds across 25 games) to begin the season, keeping him out of Brisbane’s opening three games. He was given clearance to begin cardio work following the opening-round loss to Perth and returned against New Zealand on October 26, playing every remaining game of the season. The illness continued to affect him, with Young still described as battling glandular fever in late January.

Development player Will Magnay (via Tulsa) joined Brisbane in October on a three-year deal after leaving Tulsa University.

On January 27, Young (11 points and 4 rebounds) provided a major lift in less than 10 minutes as Brisbane ended a seven-game losing streak with a 95-90 win over Adelaide. Buford (24 points and 5 rebounds) and Trice (15 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals) led the Bullets, while Daniel Johnson (25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Adelaide.

Buford (15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks across 22 games) requested his release in February to pursue opportunities in Europe (to Europe), with general manager Richard Clarke saying he was no longer committed to the team and adding, “The coaches will also use this as an opportunity to continue to invest in our young players and give them increased court time.”

Young’s best game came two days later against Illawarra on February 8, where Young (13 points) made three of four shots from the field and seven of eight free throws in just over nine minutes as Brisbane defeated the Hawks 99-91. Kickert (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Trice (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) led the Bullets, while Demitrius Conger (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Illawarra, with the victory Brisbane’s first over the Hawks in 10 years.

Trice (15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals across 27 games) was named Brisbane’s club MVP, while Kickert (13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds across 26 games) completed a 50-40-90 season for the second consecutive year. Jervis (10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds across 24 games), Holt (9.7 points and 3.1 rebounds across all 28 games), Te Rangi (7.3 points and 2.7 rebounds across 26 games), Gibson (7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 24 games) and Petrie (5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds across 16 games) were the other main contributors.

Brisbane closed the season in Adelaide on February 17, where Young (7 points and 2 steals) came off the bench as the 36ers defeated the Bullets 105-82. Trice (20 points) and Holt (12 points) led Brisbane, while Majok Deng (20 points and 3 steals) led Adelaide, leaving the Bullets in eighth place with a 9-19 record.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2018/19
After finishing sixth with an 11-17 record, Cairns replaced Aaron Fearne with Mike Kelly and rebuilt a roster which had lost Cameron Gliddon (to Brisbane), Mitchell McCarron (to Melbourne), Jarrad Weeks (to New Zealand) and Stephen Weigh (retired). Mitchell Young (via Brisbane) returned to the Taipans after previously playing for Cairns between 2013 and 2015, joining Rob Loe (via New Zealand), Lucas Walker (via Perth), Jarrod Kenny (via Perth), Dexter Kernich-Drew (via Perth) and imports Melo Trimble, Devon Hall and DJ Newbill (via New Zealand). Cairns defeated Brisbane 88-70 in its opening game before losing 14 straight.

Young (2 points across 23 games) played a limited reserve role and did not start a game. He did not appear in five games, with no injury reported during the season.

Young’s best game came in Cairns’ home opener against Illawarra on October 21, where he made three of four shots and finished with 7 points and 6 rebounds in 12 minutes. Trimble (28 points and 5 assists) and Newbill (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) led Cairns, but Todd Blanchfield (32 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 block), Jordair Jett (22 points and 5 assists) and Brian Conklin (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) powered the Hawks to a 104-93 win.

Young (5 points) contributed when Cairns finally ended its 14-game losing streak on January 3, with Hall (24 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal), Jawai (18 points and 4 assists) and Kenny (15 points and 6 rebounds) leading the Taipans to a 109-80 win over Brisbane, while Lamar Patterson (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Bullets.

Trimble (21.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 27 games) earned All-NBL Second Team honours and won the Taipans’ MVP, while Newbill (14.3 points and 4 rebounds across 27 games), Jawai (10 points and 5.2 rebounds across 27 games), Hall (8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds across 28 games), Loe (7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds across 28 games), Loughton (6.5 points across 25 games) and Walker (6.1 points and 4 rebounds across 26 games) were Cairns’ other major contributors.

Young (0 points in 2:48) made his final NBL appearance against Sydney on February 16, with Trimble (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Loughton (17 points and 3 rebounds) leading Cairns while Bogut (12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks) helped Sydney defeat the Taipans 89-84, leaving Cairns last with a 6-22 record.

Mitchell Young played six seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Cairns Taipans and the Townsville Crocodiles, Brisbane Bullets. He averaged 4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 163 NBL games.