Siena McNitt and Briana Young are set to embark on the next phase of their basketball journeys after standout seasons at Schoolcraft College.
Overcoming Odds
McNitt’s path to Evansville was marked by a rare stomach infection that wiped out the 2023‑24 season, but the setback only sharpened her resolve. She returned to the court in 2024‑25 and posted a 12.1‑point, 4.3‑rebound average while leading the team in scoring for 20 games. Her career totals now rank atop Schoolcraft’s record books for points, points per game and single‑game outings, earning her All‑Michigan Community College Athletic Association‑East honors and MVP of the Great Lakes District tournament.
Young, the daughter of former Notre Dame forward Marcus Young, arrived at Schoolcraft with a reputation forged in high school championships. After being shifted to the post to hone her inside game, she averaged 15.6 points, shot 53 % from the field and recorded nine double‑digit rebounds. The accolades followed quickly: NJCAA All‑American, MCCAA Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year, and a key role in 15 of the team’s 33 games.
A New Chapter
Both players have chosen programs that promise immediate impact. McNitt will join Evansville, a Midwest powerhouse looking to rebuild its backcourt, while Young heads to Buffalo, where the coaching staff sees an opportunity to expand her skill set and add depth to the frontcourt. Their decisions underscore a growing trend of Division I programs targeting junior‑college talent as a fast track to competitiveness.
Schoolcraft’s Finishing School
The achievements of McNitt and Young are not isolated incidents. Schoolcraft College has carved out a niche as a finishing school for athletes who need a final polish before stepping onto the Division I stage. By pairing rigorous academics with a competitive basketball environment, the college has become a magnet for prospects who, like McNitt and Young, were once underrecruited but proved their worth through perseverance and performance.
Their stories also reflect a broader narrative in community‑college sports: the ability to turn limited initial exposure into marquee opportunities. As both athletes prepare for their first Division I seasons, the basketball world will be watching to see how they translate their collegiate success into the higher‑stakes arena.