Posted on 11 December, 2024

Star guard Nikita Young has re-signed with the Kilsyth Cobras for the 2025 NBL1 season.

Young continued her rapid rise to NBL1 stardom, with the electric guard leading the Cobras in assists (3.2apg), while ranking second in scoring (15.0ppg), steals (1.7spg), blocks (0.9bpg) and three point makes (27). 

The Mount Evelyn Meteor junior was a two way terror in 2024, with her quick feet, toughness, and uncanny knack for challenging shots placing her amongst the league leaders in steals and blocked shots. Despite standing at just 5’10, Young was able to effectively guard from 1-4 on the court and contest shots at a remarkable level, and proved to be equally disruptive against significantly taller forwards as she was with smaller guards. 

Young blocked multiple shots on five different occasions in 2024, including a season-best three swats in Round 14 against the Eltham Wildcats – while also adding four steals and five assists to highlight her stellar all around play. And over the final two months of the regular season, Young took her defence to another level, averaging 2.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest, incredibly placing her amongst the league’s top-eight players in each category during June and July.

Whilst her defensive production was at an elite level, Young’s impact on the offensive side was just as big, with her scoring and assist numbers establishing new career-highs. Young recorded a season-best seven assists against Nunawading in Round 4, and two games later she dropped a season-high 28 points to lead the Cobras to a big home win over the Geelong Supercats. Arguably her best performance of the year came late in the season on the road, however, as Young recorded 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, four steals and two blocked shots to lead the shorthanded Cobras to a thrilling win at Launceston in Round 11. 

Young’s terrific two way performance was again noted at the WNBL level, as she earned a development player contract with the reigning-champion Southside Flyers for the 2024-25 season. 

With another year of WNBL experience under her belt, and four seasons in NBL1 already to her name at just 22 years of age, Young is poised for a huge 2025 with the Cobras – and is set to be the focal point on a Kilsyth team looking to return to playoff contention.