Thursday, May 21st 2015, 12:00 am
Norman North basketball sophomore Trae Young has offers from the best of the Big 12—Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Bedlam rivals, OU and OSU.
"Being able to talk to coach Kruger, and coach Ford at OSU, sitting in their office and them telling me they want me to eventually be at their school and play for them, it's a humbling experience,” Trae said.
Young is one of just 60 players, and one of just 20 sophomores invited to the Nike Basketball Skills Academy in Santa Monica next month. He'll work with KD, LeBron, and other pros.
"It was crazy,” Trae said. “It was definitely an honor, just motivation to keep getting better."
Trae's father, Ray Young, says, "One of his biggest attributes is shooting. He can shoot the ball, he can pass the ball."
Trae has another weapon.
"My dad has had a big influence on my life,” Trae said. “He's taught me everything I know."
Trae's father, Ray, was First Team All-Big 12 twice at Texas Tech in the late 90s. A 41-point game in a win over KU in 1999 was one of the highlights of his career.
Ray Young: "Against Kansas when they had Roy Williams, I'm on the other bench, but I'm looking at him like, that's Roy Williams, and now my son's talking to him about my son playing for North Carolina someday," Ray said.
As a sophomore, the whirlwind is just beginning for Trae, but he's ready. He works out twice a day here and plays for an AAU team in Kansas City. He jumps on a plane every weekend to play in the summer.
"I enjoy it,” Trae said. “Not a lot of people are able to do this, so I'm enjoying it, I'm having fun, and I also know that I'm truly blessed."
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