LOCAL CAGE STAR SHINES WITH AAU TEAM IN LONESTAR STATE, CONTINUES RAPID ASCENT

If bad sometimes means good than Troy sophomore hoop hound James Young could be the BADDEST man in the county. Young, a 6-foot-5 wing forward and one of the state's most dynamic up-and-coming basketball prospects, straight up dominated at a recent AAU tournament down in Dallas.

Not only did he lead his Team Detroit 16-U squad to a spot in the tourney's final four – and in the process earned a qualification in the prestigious Peach Jam in Atlanta this summer – he did so by darn near setting the gym on fire.

Against a team from Memphis in the quarterfinals, Young (aka 'THE CHOSEN ONE') pumped in a 40-spot. His versatility and coachability set this spry Colt swingman apart from many others top flight recruits in the Class of 2013. This past winter he averaged 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals per contest in leading Troy to a share of the OAA White league title. Before bowing in the districts, he went for a career-high 35 points in the Colts state tournament win over crosstown adversary Troy Athens.

Along with his best friend and fellow Colt hardwood stud Evan Mahone (15 points, four assists and four steals an outing in 2011), Young will headline a Troy squad in 2012 that should be one of the best in Metro Detroit. Longtime Troy head coach Gary Fralick thinks Young could end up being the best basketball player in school history when it's all said and done on his prep career two years from now.

The Chosen One is currently getting sniffs from several major college hoops programs and the heat surrounding his recruiting will only intensify as he enters the prime of his days as a high schooler in the coming months. According to an interview with Young back in January, his favorite college team is Michigan State and he would love the chance to play for Coach Izzo and the Spartans in the future.

*Thanks to my man T.J. for filling me in on parts of this story

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