Any one know where Sam Young will be on draft night? I’m guessing with his family in Maryland, but he doesn’t advertise his plans.
Young has some interviews with the Sporting News. They had a question for various players about the perception reality of this being a weak draft. Naturally, since these players are in the draft they disputed that. Except for Sam.
PF Sam Young, Pittsburgh: “Maybe there aren’t the five guys who you know are going to be All-Stars. They might not be great players right away. But there are a lot of good guys who can hold their own, and maybe just need a little time. That does not mean they’re not good, though.”
This is a role player, journeyman draft. The kind of draft where several years later there are conversations at a bar like this.
Guy 1: I can’t believe this stiff was the number eight pick!
Guy 2: [fiddling with his phone browser] Well… Oooh. There were slim pickings in 2009. Take a look at what was left.
Guy 1: [taking the phone] Wow! [scrolling down trying to find anything] Sheesh. Well, they should have traded out for a pick the following year.
Sam Young also does a Q&A. Yes, the poetry and piano comes up.
Q: How did spending four years in college help you?
A: Spending four years in college, and competing in the Big East for four years, you see a lot of defenses, a lot of different types of basketball. You’re able to recognize situations very quickly, because there’s really nothing you haven’t seen before. And you become a mature adult going onto the next level.
Q: But you’ll be 24 on draft day. Some scouts and GMs might think that hurts you.
A: It might help me, it might hurt me. It could possibly help me because, unlike some guys, I am mature. I am mature off the court and on the court. Some of the issues that might come up for other guys, as far as maturity goes, won’t come up for me. I think some people want to see that in the player they draft.
Young’s draft status has remained consistent as being somewhere in the 20-28 range. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a range of opinion about how he’ll do in the NBA. Some negative (Insider subs.).
Pitt’s Sam Young also graded out extremely poorly. He had the worst pure point rating of any wing player, and the other thing that hurt him is that he’s one of the oldest prospects in the pool. How old? He’s 19 days older than six-year vet Darko Milicic and a full half-decade older than Holiday.
Well, Gary Parrish and Mike DeCourcy don’t have the same problem the “Draft Rafter” did.
4. Which player are you most interested to see where he falls in the NBA draft?
DeCourcy: Easy choice: Pitt’s Sam Young. In my eyes, Young is the Josh Howard of the 2009 NBA draft. If he goes anywhere in the 20s, he will be this year’s best bargain.
Young is physically mature, has an NBA-ready perimeter game, will be able defend the shooting guard or small forward spots and has made big shots in his career. Some worry that he is 24 years old. I’d worry more if he played for someone else and was getting 20 against my team.
I also did a write-up on Young for the Atlanta Hawks blog. I don’t see him going there with the #19 pick. Simply, because they don’t have a crying need for another SF. Plus, they need a guy that is defense first.
I love Young, but his mentality is looking for offense. So, I just don’t see the fit with Atlanta at that spot.
If a coach did that to me I would transfer to another school.
Taylor – Didn’t do much. Seemed like he was getting pushed around rather easily, particularly on the defensive boards. Had the ball stripped from his hands several times. Definitely will need to hit the weights.
Zanna – I was impressed. Moved well around the basket, good hands, gets to the ball, and hustles. Seems like he has the skills, and the willingness to play D, to contribute immediately.
Richardson – Looks like he has a solid all-around game (good jumper and ball handling skills), likes to play defense, is a natural hustler, and is already physically developed enough to compete in the BE. Liked what I saw.
Patterson – left after the second game (tired 6-year-old), so didn’t get to see him play.
As for the returning players:
Gilbert tweaked his knee on a dunk, but even before and after that was more inclined to settle for jump shots than get to the rack.
Nasir Robinson seems to be coming along. Jump shot still not there, but is all over the court.
Woodall was hitting jump shots, playing good D, and running the point with a lot of confidence.
Wannamaker’s was driving to the rim like a beast, but the jump shot was off on this particular night.
Gibbs wasn’t there, and didn’t see McGhee or Dixon.
If a coach did that to me I would transfer to another school.”
joel, I don’t understand your comment. Would you mind explaining or clarifying?
Beyond that, what do you mean that you would transfer to another school? The high school prospects aren’t bound to the schools that they commit to until LOI day. To act otherwise defies reality. It would be nice if kids didn’t reneg on their verbal commitments, but keep in mind that these are non-binding, and that it cuts both ways, in that Pitt also takes players who were originally committed elsewhere.
Bad news, Clemmings coach said he hasn’t committed because he is going to push him to visit other places and says the kid didn’t discuss it with him or the parents. Guess what Coach? Who cares, the kid obviously liked it and wants to go to Pitt. I hate when coaches get overinvolved in the process, they aren’t the ones going to school. Of course he probably wants the kid at Florida because he can say he has a player there. But if he’s looking out for T.J.’s best interest he would love him to go to Pitt, where he will be able to get on the field, and develop much like Romeus and Sheard have. Especially because Romeus is a smaller copy of this kid, one year of football and a hoops player throughout high school. And, Romeus is projected as a first rounder.