James Young- Rochester High School / University of Kentucky

            Willie Cauley-Stein, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Alex Poythress, Julius Randle, and James Young. What do these six elite basketball players have in common? According to nbadraft.net and draftexpress.com, each of them is projected to be drafted in the 2014 NBA draft, and all of them will be wearing blue and white this upcoming college basketball season as they work to bring the University of Kentucky Wildcats back to a championship season.

            Along with Cauley-Stein, both Harrisons, and Randle, James Young is projected to be picked up early, in the draft’s lottery—something that has been a goal of his since he was little.

            “I first started playing basketball when I was three years old,” Young says, “At first, it was just my dad and I messing around, but I started to really get serious about it when I was five. It’s always been a goal of mine to play in the NBA. I think that’s every basketball player’s dream.”

            At 6’6” and 204 lbs., Young, a recent graduate of Rochester High School located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, says he’s excited to head out to Lexington to play under renowned Coach John Calipari.

            “I chose Kentucky because they’re more of a family and I’m a big family person. Off the court, they’re always together talking about how to get better and everybody is just really close.”

Young adds, “I’ve talked to a lot of guys on the team: Willie Cauley-Stein, Ryan Harrow, Alex Poythress, and Nerlens Noel. They told me it’s going to be tough. Cal doesn’t promise anything. Just go out there and work hard.”

He is also looking forward to playing alongside Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, and Julius Randle.

All incoming freshmen, Young says, “They are all great guys. I can’t wait to play with them. We have all had the chance to play against each other throughout the summer, but the McDonald’s All American Game was my first time playing with the twins on the same team.”

After a dominating 2011-2012 season ending with a national championship, the Kentucky Wildcats came back in 2012-2013 with a less than dazzling season. Having not been selected for the 2013 NCAA tournament, many spectators question how the team is going to respond to the devastating season. Young does not see an issue with bringing Wildcats back on top.

 “A lot of people say it is going to be a lot of pressure for us, and they are going to expect big things from us. I think we should be just fine if we just be players and play our game. Our goal is to just try not to think about last year at all and try to keep moving forward and get better at everything.”

He adds, “It’s a blessing. A lot of kids don’t get the same opportunity as we do to get to play for such an outstanding basketball school. It is a big deal. We can’t take it for granted and [have to] come out big on the court.”

As a shooting guard, Young says his left handedness has been his greatest advantage as he continues to improve at his position.

“Most defenders are used to guarding right-handed people. Because I’m left-handed, it’s different and more difficult for them, and I try to take advantage of that.”

Off the court, he tries to strengthen his weaker hand by writing right-handed.

Aside from his ball handling skills, Young says his job is to be a leader on the court and bring energy to the team.

“I try to pick everybody up on the court. I try to get all eyes on me, so I can get everybody else on the team the ball. [As a leader], my job is to be more vocal on the court, do the right things, and tell people where to go or where they should be.”

Young says he really started to “blow up on the court” in the summer of 2012. In the title game of the 2012 Nike Global Challenge located in Washington D.C., he helped team USA top Andrew Wiggins—the number one ranked recruit in the class of 2013 and a Kansas commit—and team Canada while scoring a game total of 29 points after shooting 12-23—including five baskets from behind the arc and a 16 point run within a six minute stretch. Young then received the MVP award. He remembers this game as his greatest memory of his basketball career thus far.

During the time before he goes out to Lexington, Young plans to work hard every day to improve on his game and “keep getting better as a person both on and off the court.”

His greatest support when it comes to achieving his goals, Young says, is his grandma and his father.

“Off the court, I’d have to say my grandma has been the best at helping me improve as a person. She’s always been there for me for everything. On the court, I’d have to say my dad has helped me the most. He always works with me and pushes me to work hard every day.”

As for now, Young continues to grow as a player and is projected to be the number five draft pick in 2014 by nbadraft.net. However, Young says he doesn’t pay attention to recruiting websites and draft predictions.      

“I don’t really pay attention to that. I just focus on playing my game and getting better. [For now], there’s nothing to celebrate. I haven’t made it there yet.”