The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Young’s feel for game impressive
Editor’s note: The Hawks are on track to have as many as three first-round picks in the 2018 draft. Their own pick is almost certain to be in the lottery. The Hawks also own a pick via the Rockets and will have a third pick if the Timberwolves quality for the playoffs. This is the seventh of occasional reports on prospects expected to be selected in the first round of the draft:
NORMAN, OKLA. — After covering the NBA for so many years the college game can be hard to watch. I get frustrated seeing college teams fail to make plays that seem so obvious and simple. Plays that happen like clockwork in NBA games at a sizzling pace develop slowly in college games and happen haphazardly, if at all.
That’s why watching Oklahoma’s Trae Young play is such a relief. For all the hype about his long-range shooting, I’m most impressed by Young’s feel for the game. Here is a freshman point guard with an NBA-level understanding of how to play to go along with NBAlevel skills.
I sat behind one of the baselines for the Oklahoma-Iowa State game on Friday. From that vantage point, I could see Young’s eyes and his teammates’ movements. Several times, I would see an opportunity develop for one of his teammates at the exact moment Young whipped a pinpoint pass leading to an open shot. Sometimes Young whipped passes before I saw the play develop (he’s masterful at not letting his eyes give away his intentions).
Young’s 49.0 assist rate (tops in Division I per KenPom) and 10.1 assists per 40 minutes are ridiculous numbers for any player, let alone a freshman playing at a high-major school. Young has outstanding court vision and ball-handling ability. Young isn’t particularly quick but he’s crafty about shifting speeds, changing directions and using the threat of his 3-point shot to get where he wants. About that shot: Young has a low release point and often launches at a moment’s notice without being square to the basket. Young’s unorthodox methods, slight build and his high-volume 3-point shooting have led to comparisons to Stephen Curry.
Young’s usage rate (38.7) is tops in Division I per Ken Pom.com and yet he’s posted a 58.8 true shooting percentage (55.7 in Big 12 games). Young draws fouls at a high rate (7.3 per 40 minutes) and is shooting 86 percent on 263 free-throw attempts. His turnover rate (20.0) vs. usage rate (38.7) is fine for his age.
NBA teams will have to figure out why Young hasn’t shot as well late in the season. After making 44 of 107 3-point attempts (41 percent) in 11 non-conference games, Young has shot 33 percent in conference play, including 20 for 85 (24 percent) over his past nine games. Young went 5 for 19 from the field against Iowa State, including 1 for 9 on 3’s, with less than ideal shot selection. (Young also may have been limited by a hip injury.)
After watching several Oklahoma games this season, I suspect that Young is worn down from carrying such a big offensive load.
“Everybody game plans for him,” said Iowa State coach Steve Prohm, who had 2015 No. 14 overall pick Cameron Payne at Murray State. “I think you’ve got to cut him a break from that standpoint. If you coach a great point guard, that’s what happens. He’s in a tough situation.”
Still, even accounting for the circumstances, Young has some offensive limitations because of his size and relative lack of athleticism.
He’s shooting just 49.5 percent on 2-pointers (46.6 percent in conference play). According to Synergy, Young has shot 47.9 percent on 121 field-goal attempts around the basket with 1.04 points per possession (36th percentile). Young has drawn fouls on just 9.1 percent of those plays — against Iowa State, Young threw up some wild shots on drives while trying to draw contact.