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Sooners score five-star point guard Trae Young

Trae Young
Trae Young

For the last five years, Lon Kruger and his staff at Oklahoma have been chasing somebody they see as a true difference maker in five-star point guard Trae Young. Thursday afternoon, that effort paid off when the senior at Norman (Okla.) North elected to stay home.

“I’ll be going to OU next year,” Young told Rivals.com.

“I have confidence in these young guys they have. Kameron McGusty is playing really well, Kristian Doolittle is playing like one of the best young players in the Big 12. I just don’t see them having that one true leader. I feel like I fit with that really well and it’s just a crazy coincidence that it’s my hometown.”


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As good as 2017’s No. 14 ranked player feels about the cast he will be joining in Norman, the choice wasn’t easy either as the hometown Sooners edged out the kings of the Big 12, Kansas.

“The hardest call I’ve ever made was to Coach Bill Self to tell him I was going to OU,” said Young. “It was so close between those two schools and he has been recruiting me just as long. It was so tough. It was just how comfortable I felt at Oklahoma and me knowing what I’m going to get at Oklahoma.”

While Oklahoma is the hometown school and will afford Young the opportunity to play in front of his closest family and friends, proximity wasn’t the only reason he decided to play for the Sooners. Playing style and fit played huge roles as well.

“(Location) was one of many factors,” said Young. “I didn’t want to overlook all of the other factors that played into this. One big factor was going somewhere that I feel like I have the best chance to really show what I can do and make it to the highest level.

“I feel the way Coach Kruger lets his players play and how I play it fits perfect. What I need to do is work on the defensive end and I feel his teams have always been good there. His best teams have been good on both ends.”

With his decision out of the way, Young is looking forward to focusing on the rest of his senior season. He’s chasing an elusive state championship and looking forward to playing in two of the most prestigious All-Star games there are.

“It’s a big relief. It’s a lot of weight off your shoulders,” said Young. “Now you are just out there playing for your high school team and to try and win a state championship.

“I also have McDonald’s All-American game and Jordan Brand game and a lot of fun opportunities coming up and this is going to take a lot of weight off that and allow me to focus.”

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