Young aims to silence doubts
PITTSBURGH — Trae Young’s smile provided no hint of a slump. The enthusiasm of the 19-year-old hadn’t dimmed, even as the harsh national spotlight decided the most captivating player in the country had become its most overrated player.
One day before playing his first NCAA Tournament game, Oklahoma’s popular, and polarizing, guard — the nation’s leader in scoring (27.4) and assists (8.8) — recalled the incredible performances of Kemba Walker and Steph Curry, knowing he still has the potential to replicate such storied runs.
“March Madness is when the stars come out,” Young said Wednesday. “The best players have to step up for their teams to win. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m excited.
“I don’t feel any pressure. I look at every game as another opportunity to play, and put on a show.”
When Young was dropping 40-plus points, and connecting on 30-foot shots and passes, comparisons to Curry followed, as Oklahoma opened 12-1, and became the fourth-ranked team in the nation.
But when the 10thseeded Sooners (18-13) finished the season with eight losses in 10 games and landed on the bubble, the 6-foot-2 Young looked like he’d been burnt before he could grab the torch, struggling with shot selection and decision-making, as he hit just 34.9 percent from the field in the past 12 games, and failed to reach 20 points in three of the past five games.
“I don’t think anybody expected him to do in November and December what he did. He exploded on the scene,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. “Defenses have made it tougher later. They started being much more physical with him, being more aggressive, trying to get it out of his hands earlier.
“He set such a high bar. That changes everyone’s expectations. When it doesn’t quite work out as smoothly later, then you kind of get measured by what you did early and that was a pretty tough standard.”
The freshman, and soonto-be lottery pick, said that constant conversations with Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook, helped his emotions avoid the swings his game has seen.
“I had to mature a lot more quickly than a lot of 19-year-olds would. It’s been a roller-coaster year,” Young said. “I wouldn’t go back and do anything different. I mean, you can always get better and you learn from your failures, so, that’s all I’m doing.”
In the first round, No. 7 Rhode Island (25-7) is forced to prepare for Young like it’s still the first month of the season.
“He really has no weakness in his game,” Rams coach Dan Hurley said. “He can score at every level, obviously, with amazing range on his perimeter shot. He can pass the ball with either hand at ridiculous angles. He has the ball in his hands, it has to be over 90 percent of the time, maybe even 95 percent. “It all starts with him.” How will Young’s wild ride at Oklahoma end?
“I always teared up when I see one shining moment at the championship game, so, it’s just an unreal feeling that I’m here now,” Young said. “It’s a breath of fresh air.”