Sun Athletes of the Week: Brian Young and Nikke Hitchens

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000 | 3:57 a.m.

Named on Dec. 21, 2000

Male Athlete of the Week: BRIAN YOUNG

School: Durango

Class: Junior

Sport: Basketball

Last week: Young, a reserve forward, connected on 16-of-29 3-point attempts to help the Trailblazers to victories over Green Valley, Cheyenne, Eldorado and Centennial. The 6-4 sharpshooter, a transfer from Indiana, hit 5-of-5 shots from behind the arc en route to 17 points in Wednesday's win over the Desert Shields, made 4-of-5 treys and scored 16 points in Friday's victory over Sundevils, then finished his week by making 6-of-13 3-point attempts and scoring a season-high 20 points against the Bulldogs on Saturday -- all in limited playing time. "He's a typical Indiana shooter," Durango coach Al LaRocque said. "The kids call him 'French Lick.' "

Female Athlete of the Week: NIKKI HITCHENS

School: Silverado

Class: Senior

Sport: Basketball

Last week: Hitchens, a starting forward for the Skyhawks, scored 40 points to lift Silverado to back-to-back victories over Las Vegas and Cheyenne. After tallying 19 points against the Wildcats on Wednesday, the 5-9 Hitchens played her best game of the season the following night, netting 21 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and connecting on 11-of-11 attempts from the free-throw line. "She seems to be hitting the boards a lot better this year, and she's doing a good job getting open," Skyhawks coach Diane Hernandez said. "She's attacking the basket well, as well as taking the perimeter shot, so that's put her in a position to be more of a threat."