ONE SHINING MOMENT: Arizona prep basketball standout Hannah Young wins a state championship as her recruiting process enhances
Andre Johnson 
YOUNG CHAMPION
Hannah Young can now add another notable accolade to her ever-evolving list of milestones as a student athlete: state champion.
Arguably one of Valley Vista’s most celebrated newcomers in recent memory, Young helped propelled the Monsoon to their third consecutive Arizona AIA Girls Basketball Class 6A state championship and their fifth state crown in six years.
Having made her season debut for coach Rachel Matakas’ squad on January 15, Young picked up where she left off last year. The 6-foot junior forward quickly emerged as a catalyst for a Valley Vista team that has become a dynasty in Arizona AIA Girls Basketball Class 6A basketball.
In helping the Monsoon thoroughly dispatch Perry, 68-46, to claim their third gold ball in as many years, Young was as good as advertised, matching Arizona Gatorade Player of Year, Jennah Isai, with a team-best 12 points.
For Young, it was just the kind of start — and finish — to a condensed season she envisioned having as a newcomer for perennial power Valley Vista, which ended the 2021-22 campaign with a 25-5 record, including an 11-0 mark Arizona’s 6A Southwest Division.
YOUNG’S FOOTAGE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17034992/Hannah-Young/
DESTINY STEPS
Most importantly, Young’s banner campaign for the Monsoon figures to enhance a recruiting process that includes her having generated interests from several major D-1 schools, most recently Weber State, her mother, Robin Young, told Making Headline News.
“This was a great opportunity to be in a program with high level players and a great coach,” Hannah Young told MHN.
More than anything, Young said, she was especially appreciative of the camaraderie she established with her teammates, who seemed enraptured by her presence, coupled with her valiant contributions during the season’s pivotal stretch.
Along with her 12-point outburst in the state final, Young grabbed nine rebounds (seven on the defensive end), had two steals, and shot 5-of-8 shots from the field for Valley Vista, which witnessed its 31-22 halftime advantage balloon to 20 heading into the final frame.
YOUNG’S RECRUITING PROFILE: https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-basketball-recruiting/arizona/surprise/valley-vista-high-school/hannah-young30
COOL, CALM & COLLECTED
At that point in the contest, it seemed the highly-anticipated countdown to the Monsoon’s third consecutive 6A crown was officially underway.
“It was hard at first to adjust to a tight team,” said Young, assessing her abbreviated campaign with Valley Vista. “But once I proved myself, they welcomed me with open arms.”
While she seemingly wasted little time finding her niche as a newcomer for Valley Vista, Young said she’s destined to see what the future holds for the Monsoon whom, in all likelihood, will be the presumptive favorite to win it all.
Once again.
The Monsoon will return the nucleus of a team that will lose five seniors from this year’s squad.
MORE ON YOUNG: https://www.maxpreps.com/m/athlete/hannah-young/huI6CG11jkiR3bgB0ZkRzA/default.htm
“It feels amazing,” Young said winning a state title. “This was my first time in that atmosphere, and it felt great to help my team win the championship.” — Valley Vista junior forward Hannah Young
When asked what’s so special about the team unity, Young said: “The fact that we’re all so different and have different opinions, but we all come together and make it work.”
This year undoubtedly was no exception as Valley Vista’s prized newcomer had ultimately found out.
Now, Young acknowledged, it’s time the Monsoon shift their focus on running it back in what figures to be pivotal senior campaign for the prep hoops standout, whose game many have likened to current WNBA player DeWanna Bonner of the Connecticut Sun and six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen.
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Besides Weber State, Loyola Marymount University of the West Coast Conference heads the list of schools that’s monitoring her closely, said Young, who previously played in the offseason for Arizona’s Select Girls Under Amour Association 15-and-under squad that’s based in Phoenix.
DYNAMIC DYNASTY
“It feels amazing,” Young said winning a state title. “This was my first time in that atmosphere, and it felt great to help my team win the championship.”
Fortunately for Young, a flurry of college scouts was in attendance to witness Valley Vista continue its dynasty, something that could eventually prove beneficial for her — much sooner than later.
“I would hope that college coaches would see what attributes I could bring to their team,” Young said.
Given what recently transpired on the court for the perennial power Monsoon, chances are, they already know.
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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.
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