Michael Young (basketball, born 1994)
Michael Young Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 5, 1994 |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Playing for Galatasaray in the Basketbol Süper Ligi, collegiate basketball at Pittsburgh Panthers |
Michael Lamor Young Jr. (born September 5, 1994) is a professional basketball athlete currently playing for Galatasaray in the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He competed at the collegiate level with the Pittsburgh Panthers, representing the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Early years
Young completed his high school education at St. Benedict's Prep located in Newark, New Jersey, graduating in 2013. He played a pivotal role in leading his team to the National High School Invitational finals, where they finished as runners-up, and contributed to the squad achieving a No. 2 national ranking from both USA Today and MaxPreps. In the NHSI National Championship game, St. Benedict's narrowly lost to Montverde Academy, securing second place.
In his senior year, Young was selected to participate in the prestigious Jordan Brand Classic held at the Barclays Center, where he scored 19 points. He also showcased his talents at several elite basketball camps including the Reebok Breakout Challenge, Five Star camp, Adidas Uprising, and Hoop Group Elite. By the end of his high school tenure, Young amassed a total of 1,445 points and was nationally ranked 56th overall and 14th among power forwards by ESPN.
Freshman year
During his freshman season, Young started every one of the Panthers’ 36 games and earned recognition on the All-ACC Academic Team, highlighting his academic and athletic balance. He averaged 6 points along with just over 4 rebounds per contest and reached double-digit scoring on five occasions. In the 2014 NCAA Tournament’s first round, he contributed 9 points and 3 rebounds in a victory over Colorado, followed by 4 points in a defeat against No. 1 seed Florida.
Sophomore year
Young’s offensive production improved markedly as he posted averages of 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. His performance earned him All-ACC honorable mention honors from both coaches and media outlets. Throughout the season, he led Pittsburgh in scoring on 11 occasions and topped the rebound charts in 17 games. His highest scoring output came with a 27-point effort versus Chaminade.
Junior year
In his third collegiate season, Young recorded double-digit scoring with over 20 points in 11 games, averaging 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per matchup. He was named to the All-ACC Third Team and ranked within the top 15 in the conference for scoring (13th), rebounding (12th), and field goal percentage (5th). Leading Pittsburgh in both scoring and shooting efficiency, he also achieved four career-best double-doubles during this campaign.
Senior year
At the start of his final college season, Young posted averages of 23 points and 8 rebounds across the first four games, contributing to an early team record of 8–2. He set a personal scoring record with 30 points along with eight rebounds in a narrow victory over Marquette and followed that performance by scoring 29 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a win against Penn State during the Never Forget Tribute Classic.
College statistics
|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14 | style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh | 36 || 36 || 21.6 || .413 || .357 || .817 || 4.1 || 0.9 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 6.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15 | style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh | 34 || 33 || 31.7 || .530 || .294 || .693 || 7.3 || 1.3 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 13.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16 | style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh | 33 || 33 || 29.4 || .537 || .333 || .777 || 6.9 || 2.3 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 15.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17 | style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh | 33 || 32 || 33.2 || .453 || .341 || .778 || 6.8 || 2.7 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 19.6 |}
Washington Wizards / G League (2017–2018)
Following the 2017 NBA draft in which he went unselected, Young secured a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards. This agreement required him to divide his playing time between the Wizards and various G League teams, as Washington did not have a dedicated affiliate. Initially, he was assigned to the Delaware 87ers for four games before transferring to the Northern Arizona Suns on November 13, 2017. Young remained under contract until January 3, 2018, when the Wizards released him without having appeared in an NBA game. Shortly thereafter, on January 6, 2018, he was reacquired by the Northern Arizona Suns as a returning player.
Leones de Ponce (2018)
On April 11, 2018, Young expanded his international career by signing with Leones de Ponce, a team competing in Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
Cholet Basket (2018–2019)
Continuing his professional journey in Europe, Young inked a deal with Cholet Basket of France’s premier basketball league, LNB Pro A, on July 30, 2018.
JDA Dijon (2019)
Young joined JDA Dijon Basket, also part of the LNB Pro A, on July 23, 2019. However, his contract with the club was terminated on December 5, 2019.
Hapoel Gilboa Galil (2020)
On January 12, 2020, Young signed with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Basketball Premier League as an injury replacement for Justin Tillman. He made his debut on January 18 by contributing 19 points and seven rebounds in a 96–80 victory over Ironi Nes Ziona. Throughout 18 games with the team, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per contest, playing a key role in leading the team to the semifinals.
Al Nasr (2020)
Young continued his career by signing with Al Nasr of the UAE National Basketball League on August 25, 2020.
Ironi Nahariya (2020–2021)
On December 1, 2020, Young became a member of Ironi Nahariya in Israel’s top-tier league. During his tenure there, he posted averages of 15 points, six rebounds, and two assists per game.
Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski (2021–2022)
Young signed with Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski of Poland’s Basketball League on July 21, 2021.
Bursaspor (2023–2024)
On July 27, 2023, Young agreed to terms with Bursaspor Basketbol competing in Turkey’s Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).
Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (2024)
Young joined the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters of South Korea’s Korean Basketball League on July 25, 2024. His stint ended when Cliff Alexander replaced him on December 15.
Galatasaray (2024–2025)
On December 18, 2024, Young signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi. The club announced their mutual separation from Young on June 20, 2025, expressing appreciation for his contributions during his time there.