April 19, 2012
Young heading to Aggieland
His Monterey High senior season was shut down early by injury. Then he redshirted last year at Monterey Peninsula College (MPC). He was truly an unknown. But in a very short period of time, Andrew Young emerged from the proverbial nowhere to a point where he had the opportunity to select between Oregon, North Carolina State and Texas A&M as his final three schools and basketball programs of choice.
Young went with the latter where he'll be playing for Coach Billy Kennedy.
Texas A&M, the sixth largest university in the country, is in the Big 12 conference but moving to the Southeastern Conference -- think Kentucky and Florida -- come this July.
21.6 points and 13.9 rebounds a game for MPC Coach Blake Spiering, along with a 6-foot-9, 235 pound frame, will quickly attract an immediate horde of suitors from the college coaching ranks and quickly eliminate any degree of anonymity.
So why Texas A&M?
Young answered with, "It's the best fit for me as a person and as a player. It's a place that will help me succeed for the next 50 years of my life."
Coach Spiering offered, "I'm very happy for him. He's a great young man, teammate and person, someone who is highly coachable and strong academically. Andrew looked at every aspect of everything with each school {prior to making his decision]. I never saw him so excited and happy as today and the guys here are happy for him."
The Aggie roster is losing a pair of frontcourt starters in senior David Loubeau and junior Khris Middleton. the latter declaring for the NBA draft. As for returnees, 6-foot-9 freshman Daniel Alexander and 6-foot-9 sophomore Kourtney Roberson are apparently returning but had just four starts between them this past season. However, 6-foot-9 junior Ray Turner enjoyed a solid year and will be back, plus 6-foot-10 sophomore Keith Davis started 14 games but appears offensively limited. None have the court awareness and passing prowess Young possesses.
Asked if he saw this unfolding three years ago, Young responded, "I never would have thought it. It sounds cliche but all the sacrifice, dedication and hard work made it happen."
He's looking to major in sociology.
Young specifically thanked "my coach, my grandma, all my friends, everyone who was so supportive" for helping him get to this moment.