16th July 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
With the Youth League Two Men finals fast approaching, the race for the 2026 MVP is building towards an exciting finish. We take a look at some of the standout performers whose growth, confidence and impact have helped shape another competitive season.
Opportunity and development have combined to produce another exciting Youth League Two Men season.
As clubs prepare for the final push towards finals, players across the competition have continued to embrace bigger roles within their teams, producing consistent performances while gaining valuable experience. With emerging talent making its mark across the league, the competition has once again highlighted the strength of the Big V pathway.
Sherbrooke has been led by Mitchell Smits, who continues to rank among the competition’s standout performers, averaging 21.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Teammate Aaron Aulsebrook-Walker has also played an important role, contributing across multiple areas of the game with averages of 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds.
Wallan has once again featured prominently, Rhylee Leighton, Hunter Graham and Kaleb Graham all producing outstanding seasons. Leighton has been one of the competition’s leading scorers averaging 24.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, while Hunter has added 19.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. Kaleb has also continued to make his mark, with strong all-round performances averaging 12.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
RMIT University's Daniel Sacca hascontinued to showcase his scoring ability, averaging 21.4 points per game while remaining a key contributor for his side. Teammate Emmett Kelly-Vaccaro has also emerged among the competition’s standout performers, averaging 14.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Altona's Mitchell Smith has continued to deliver consistently throughout the season, while Darebin teammates Jacob Bourke-Doggett and Archer Davis have each produced strong campaigns. Warrandyte has also been well represented through the performances of Cameron Whitmore and Sam Eckholdt, further highlighting the depth of talent across the competition.
Basketball Victoria Big V League Manager Andrew West said the Youth League Two Men competition continued to provide an important platform for young athletes to develop and grow.
"Youth League Two Men is all about opportunity, and this season we've seen so many players take full advantage of that opportunity by stepping into bigger roles and continuing to improve their game," West said.
"The confidence these athletes have shown throughout the season has been fantastic to watch. Every week we've seen players continue to develop while making important contributions to their teams, and that's exactly what these competitions are designed to do."
With the regular season entering its final rounds, every performance presents another opportunity for players to help their teams build momentum heading into finals. With so many athletes enjoying impressive campaigns, the race for the 2026 Youth League Two Men MVP promises to go right down to the wire.
The Race to MVP series celebrates some of the standout performers across the Big V competition. With finals approaching, the race for individual honours remains wide open as players continue to help drive their teams towards postseason success.
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For Media Enquiries:
Maree DeGeorge
Basketball Victoria
Media & Communications Specialist
maree.degeorge@basketballvictoria.com.au
0499 851 266
