Michael Young- forward, men’s basketball
Young has emerged as the go-to scorer for the Pitt men’s basketball team this season, ranking 10th in the ACC in points per game, sixth in field goal percentage and 10th in rebounds per game. That success continued this past week, as Young averaged 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game in three contests against Cornell, Kent State and Purdue. The junior forward has watched his minutes increase as the team’s games develop competitively, playing more than 30 minutes in the past two matchups. Young and the Panthers next play 7 p.m. Friday, when they take on Duquesne at the CONSOL Energy Center.
Aysia Bugg- guard, women’s basketball
Despite her team losing two of its three games in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands, Aysia Bugg thrived off the mainland, averaging 14.7 points per game against the likes of South Dakota State, Old Dominion and No. 6 Maryland. Bugg’s best game came in the team’s only win, a 67-58 win over Old Dominion. Bugg tallied 18 points, three rebounds and three assists on the evening, playing a big part in ensuring the Panthers wouldn’t come back from the tournament without a victory. Bugg and the Panthers next play 7 p.m. Thursday, when they travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to face the Michigan Wolverines.