Standout Guard Nikki Ylagan Officially a Thunderwolf

Women’s basketball coach Jon Kreiner has announced the commitment of 5’5 guard Nikki Ylagan, of Mississauga.

“We are thrilled that Nikki has chosen Lakehead University to play basketball and further her education. She’s a great student and a great player with a lot of experience. Nikki is a very skilled guard that can really shoot it, is very quick and athletic and really knows how to use ball screens. She will need to get stronger but our backcourt just got a lot deeper with the addition of Nikki Ylagan.”

Nikki averaged 20 points, 7 assists and 4 steals per game for Father Michael Goetz High School, and led the Hooptown GTA league with 11 games of 20 points or more, which included two games of 30 points. She also maintained a 90+ average in high school.

“Two years ago I watched Lakehead play at Ryerson and since then Lakehead has always been a top choice for my post secondary plans,” says Ylagan. “My campus visit to Lakehead was such a memorable experience. The community is so engaged and while watching the game people were so friendly and so welcoming. They made me feel as though I was already a Thunderwolf!

Nikki’s Brampton Warriors’ JUEL Coach Hugh Riley states, “Nikki is a player that the community of Thunder Bay is going to love, she is very competitive and will make other players around her better. She is very intelligent with a high basketball IQ. As a person she is funny and loves to smile a lot and comes from a great family, her mom and dad are very gracious people. It has been a pleasure coaching her this year and I wished I coached her longer.”

Ylagan’s AAU and Canada Elite Coach Handel Kipp remarks, “Nikki is a competitive athlete and always rises to the occasion. She is very skilled, works well off the pick and roll and is a shot creator. Nikki will be a fan favourite and will impact her team right away.”

Ylagan goes on to explain her decision, saying, “Coach Kreiner, the rest of the coaching staff and the team were so supportive of each other that it really made me want to be a part of the positive bond that they have. Contributing to my decision making process, Lakehead has such a strong business program and I knew that this is where I want to study. I am thrilled to have made the decision that Lakehead is the perfect home away from home to further my studies and to further my basketball career.”

Profile: Nikki Ylagan
Position: 5’5” Point Guard
High School: Father Michael Goetz
Hometown: Mississauga, ON

High School Statistics
PPG: 20
APG: 7
SPG: 4

Achievements

Academic Honour Student. – Grade 8 to Grade 11
Highest grade award in Basketball course (Father Goetz) 2014

• 2013 MVP Father Goetz Junior team
  2014 MVP Father Goetz Senior team.
• Axemen Applewood Tournament MVP
• All-Star award at the Crown the Queen tournament 2014
• Member of the Association Canada Elite Gold AAU team 2014
• All-Star award at the USJN Nationals 2014
• Interviewed twice by Rogers TV for basketball and academic accomplishments.
• MVP Filipino Basketball Association of North America 2014
• Philip Pocock Pirates tournament MVP 2015
• Under Armour Grind Award (Canada Elite 2014-2015)
• Selected to play High School GTA West All-Star 2014-2015
• GTA West All-Star Sportsmanship award
• Member of Canada Elite Under Armour AAU team2015
• All-Star award Elite Div at the Tournament of the Champions Midwest GBR 2015
• Hooptown GTA’s 20 points club #1 Elite leader (most 20 point games) 2015
• Father Michael Goetz Athlete of the Year 2013, 2014, 2015,
• Father Michael Goetz Student Council Minister of Athletics 2015-2016
• Member of Father Michael Goetz Wall of Fame 2015-2016