Zitina Aokuso, Inspiring the Young
#MenWithMomentum Features – Mitch Young
#MenWithMomentum is Basketball Queensland’s new campaign, highlighting the exceptional talent that has come out of our Queensland men’s basketball program. Each week, we’ll focus on a different player that has gone on to achieve great things in basketball.
Mitch Young has experienced international competition at an early age and quickly rose through the ranks of Basketball Queensland, most recently playing with the Cairns Taipans. We had a talk with Mitch about his basketball journey.
On Playing Nationally vs Internationally
Mitch says that he owes his fast development to the AIS program, and the International matches he competed in through it. This early exposure to a significantly higher level of competition allowed him to develop a range of different playing styles and techniques. After competing in the NCAA for St. Mary’s in the USA, he returned to play in the NBL. There he experienced a significant jump to a professional level. He says that competing in the QBL during the NBL offseason helped him to constantly improve.
Mitch Young’s Time at Saint Mary’s
The most influential moment of Mitch Young’s career was his stint with Saint Mary’s from 2009 to 2013. Mitch joined other fellow Australians, Matt Hodgson and Matthew Dellevedova in playing with the prestigious school, including an appearance in the NCAA tournament Sweet 16. For Mitch, training with elite coaches on a national level in the United States was a personal experience he’ll always cherish.
“I love the game and am grateful for all it has allowed me to achieve.”
Mitch is now retired from playing professional basketball and is currently the General Manager of Logan Basketball Incorporated, but he still plays in their QBL team. Basketball gave Mitch the opportunity to see the world and develop personally and he wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world.
Mitch Young’s Basketball Career
- Logan Thunder Junior
- AIS, 2007-2009
- Australian Emus 2009 World Championships
- Saint Mary’s NCAA, 2009-2013
- Boomers Squad, 2013
- Cairns Taipans, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2018-2019
- Townsville Crocodiles, 2015-2016
- Brisbane Bullets, 2016-2017, 2017-2018
- Logan Thunder QBL, 2014 – Current
Apart from basketball, the thing that makes me most happy is…
- Going fishing.
Pump-up song?
- Money For Nothing – Dire Straits
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