Not So Young Anymore
October 13, 2006 10:01 AM | General
October 13, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The last three years have been a whirlwind ride for West Virginia University senior forward Frank Young. He has seen the Mountaineers embrace the role of the underdog and also thrive as prohibitive favorites.
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| Forward Frank Young is one of two seniors on this year's Mountaineer men's basketball team.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
Coming into the program as a true freshman Young settled in as a role player, playing spot minutes for West Virginia’s NIT team. A year later his role increased, highlighted by his impressive 14-point performance replacing an ill Tyrone Sally to help the Mountaineers stun Boston College in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament. That victory helped propel West Virginia to an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance. Last season the Tallahassee, Fla., native started 32 of the Mountaineers’ 33 games en route to a second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. Through it all, Young wonders where all the time has gone.
“Man it feels like I just got here yesterday,” Young chuckled.
Now, sitting on the cusp of his senior season, the 6-5 swingman reflects on how his role has continually evolved through the years.
“I think the main way my role has changed is I have had to become more of a leader throughout my career,” he said. “Even though I was a vocal leader last year, we still had five seniors to fill that role.”
Although he is a quiet guy off the court, Young has no problem getting his message across to teammates when he steps on the hardwood.
“I get on the younger guys when they do something wrong, and I praise them when the do something well,” he said. “With me and Rob (Summers) being the only two seniors, I think I have to be even more vocal this season and lead by example to show these freshmen how we need to practice day in and day out to prepare for the rugged Big East schedule.”
Young has noticed a significant upgrade in athleticism with this freshman class. The team has been playing pick-up games together in an attempt to build cohesiveness and get their timing down.
“The chemistry is coming along really well. Guys are starting to learn the way each other plays and that should help us when the season begins,” Young said.
Young sees true freshman point guard Joe Mazzulla as a guy that will be a reliable backup to Darris Nichols, much the same way Nichols was a backup to J.D. Collins for two seasons.
“Joe is a really smart point guard. He reminds me of Darris when he came in as a freshman. He is a small guard that doesn’t try to do too much. He runs the team and distributes the ball well,” Young said.
Young has also noticed the swift progression of 6-7 true freshman forward Da’ Sean Butler.
“He has a great knowledge of the game and is picking things up very quickly with us,” Young said.
During Beilein’s tenure, the Mountaineers have been a predominately half-court team offensively, choosing to run only when the opportunity presented itself. Young believes the first few weeks of practice will go a long way toward determining West Virginia’s style of play for the 2006-2007 season.
“The first couple of weeks of practice, coach will see how we do in the transition game and how we do in the half court,” Young said. “We will go from there in terms of what our strengths are and how he wants to game plan for different opponents.”
Young played the four-position for most of last season across from Mike Gansey who manned the three. With both forward spots being very similar in their on-court responsibilities, Young believes the development of the newcomers will determine which position he plays this year.
“It doesn’t matter where I play. I might play more three or four. Whatever the team needs I will do. I know them both very well from being in Coach Beilein’s system for three years,” he said. “It just depends on who comes along to play the other forward position.”
Young explains some of the finer points of the forward position within the West Virginia offense.
“Most of the scoring and most of the shots in our offense come from the forward positions. They have to come off the center screens and being ready to shoot. Our forwards have to be great shooters,” Young said.
Despite many preseason publications predicting the Mountaineers to finish in the bottom of the pack in the Big East, Young knows that the expectations within the program will not change.
“Our expectation is to go to the NCAA tournament. That is our goal every year,” he said. “We want to rise above the low expectations that everybody has for this team by working hard and trying to improve in practice everyday.”
Although Young realizes that in order for the Mountaineers to be successful his point and rebound totals must increase, but he stops short of setting personal goals for himself.
“I’m going to do whatever I have to do to help this team win,” Young said. “I’m not going to set a personal goal for points or rebounds or anything like that. I don’t think that stuff is necessary to be successful.”
Young embraces the Mountaineers’ return to the familiar role they thrived on during his first two years in the program.
“We want to be the hunters and not the hunted. Nobody knows about us,” he said. “Seeing the potential and the chemistry that this team has, I see us overcoming the low expectations and having a really good season. This is a lot like it was when I came into the program.”
What a whirlwind ride it has been indeed.
Preseason practice begins tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum and Mountaineer fans in town for homecoming are invited to watch. The season opener is set for Nov. 10 when the Mountaineers play host to Mount St. Mary’s.
