As five-star guard Trae Young inches closer to a decision on where he will play collegiate basketball, the Oklahoma Sooners might be inching toward the top of his list.
Young was in attendance Saturday for the Sooners' annual Legends Alumni Game. He watched as former players and coaches prepped on the Lloyd Noble Center’s main floor and also took some shots himself before the day’s festivities got under way.
He said there was nothing new, and that he had been coming to Lloyd Noble regularly.
“I live here, so I’m up here all the time,” Young said. “(I'm) just out here working and having fun. It’s always good to get work in.”
Young is the starting point guard at Norman North High School, just five miles from the Sooners’ home floor.
Despite offers from college basketball “blue bloods,” the Sooners remain in the hunt for Young’s services. He narrowed his list of potential schools to six earlier this week, and he announced his official visit to OU would take place the weekend Ohio State comes to Norman.
“I’m excited. It’s going to be a good game,” Young said. “(The game will have) a good atmosphere, and it’ll be fun to be a part of.”
Part of the Sooners’ allure has been the “homey” feel of it all.
Young’s biggest recruiter from Oklahoma has been assistant coach — and the team’s best recruiter — Chris Crutchfield. Crutchfield helped the Sooners land Kameron McGusty, the highest-rated player that Lon Kruger has brought to Norman during his tenure.
Young would set the new record — 247Sports has him as the No. 20 player in the country — and Crutchfield has spearheaded the effort along with Kruger to land Young.
“I’ve known him since I was growing up,” Young said. “Their kids both play high school basketball with me, so I know him really well, and we have a great relationship.”
Another thing that excites Young is the chance to be a go-to type of player.
If he committed to the Sooners, his arrival on campus would coincide with incumbent starter Jordan Woodard’s graduation. That hole at point guard would most likely be filled by Young.
“It's exciting (being the go-to guy),” he said.
“That’s what you want. You want to be the big key when you step on campus.”
He said the Sooners' recent success is something he is really looking closely at — part of Oklahoma's alumni weekend was presenting the 2015-16 Sooners with their Final Four rings.
Another helper: Buddy Hield
“He’s really cool. I’ve been seeing him since four or five years ago,” Hield said. “He’s a great kid, and I tell him I want him to be in Oklahoma but to do what’s best for him. I can’t force him. It’s his decision, and he has to be comfortable with it. It would be great though.”
Young said that he has enjoyed the recruitment process, and he still has some time before he makes his final decision.
“I don’t really know yet,” Young said on when that decision would come. “Maybe late December, early January.”
