HP girls basketball basks in excitement carried over from last season
When the playoffs conclude for Highland Park’s girls basketball team sometime this month, it will signify the end of the playing career of Cate Young.
The senior captain and post player has opted not to continue at the collegiate level, instead focusing on academics and sharpening her skills as a writer.
But for now, the only thing at the front of Young’s mind is relishing her last opportunities to take the floor with her teammates —many of whom have been playing basketball together since childhood.
“What’s been really fun this year is there is a sense of community excitement,” Young said. “We had the playoff run last year and with that more people have been coming and taking an interest in us. It’s just a great feeling for us, especially since most of us have been playing for the same club all these years together, too, and this is the year we’ve always pointed to.”
On the court, the Lady Scots have gotten off to a strong start, winning their first five District 12-5A games following the 2024-25 campaign in which they finished one win away from a berth at the state tournament.
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In that season, Young earned all-district honors (a distinction she is sure to achieve again), making her the second member of her family to bring home all-district accolades on the basketball court at HP.
Young’s father, Chris, was a two-sport star for the Scots, eventually becoming a Major League Baseball pitcher. One of Young’s stops in the big leagues was with the Texas Rangers, the club for which he is currently president of baseball operations.
Cate notes that while she is aware of her dad’s prowess athletically and on the hardwood (she’s even attempted to track down some of his old footage), she doesn’t always lean on him for advice. At least not initially.
“Most of the time when I get home, I walk in and tell him that I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. “And then a few hours later I’ll see him and before you know it our fridge is the basket and he’s the defender and we’re working on things. There’s no better feeling than taking something I learned in the kitchen onto the court.”
Having parents with athletic backgrounds (her mom, Elizabeth, played soccer at Princeton) benefited Cate both in basketball and in other sports growing up. It’s also a big reason she has excelled in other avenues and will strive to continue doing so following graduation.
“We’ve got amazing kids here at Highland Park,” said Todd Monsey, HP head coach. “Who Cate is as a person and the ability she has to put forth the work necessary to be great, whatever she wants to do in life she’s going to find great success.”
