Sam Young is the next Josh Howard
photo. University of Pittsburgh
*Reprinted from Dime #49’s NBA Draft Preview*
You know how Sam Young story is going to go. Sometime around January 2013, when Young is starting for a contender and his name is beginning to surface in All-Star talk, the mainstream will catch on: Who is Sam Young? How did everybody miss this guy? People’s Exhibit 397 that the Draft is an inexact science: Sam Young.
If that sounds a lot like Josh Howard’s story, that’s because it is. Look at the similarities between the two. Barely recruited at the original high schools, both went to Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.) and grew into legit D-1 prospects. They signed with underdog major-conference programs destined to be overshadowed in their own state. They produced impeccable four-year college resumes (Young was Big East tourney MVP as a junior, third team All-American as a senior). They underwhelmed pre-draft workout observers as classic “Good at everything, great at nothing” types, buried — in the only profession besides modeling and gymnastics where 24 is too old — by underclassmen with more mystery/potential. The rest is yet to be told, but Young will probably also get picked later than he’s supposed to, and will probably make somebody regret it someday.
At a rangy 6-6, 210, Young was one of the most sophisticated scorers in college ball, working that Globetrotters pump-fake, reliable jumper and strength going to the rack to buy himself 19 points a night in the Big East. Throw in sticky defense, toughness and leadership of one of the country’s best teams, and he’s got “pro” written all over him.
Young won’t make much of a ripple on Draft Night, though. He probably won’t be in the Green Room, and might wait an hour or so too long for his phone to ring. But when it does, the NBA team on the other end should be proud of itself for taking a future All-Star.
June 18th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Taj says:
Callin it now…
With the 9th pick.. The Toronto Raptors select… Sam Young, from the University of Pittsburgh
June 18th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
JuiceMode says:
Hope he doesn’t smoke like Howard too…
June 18th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
kevin k says:
and josh howard is probably the dumbest player in the league
June 18th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
dk says:
Great! Another idiotic, cant finish in clutch and often injured whiny baby! Just what the league needs.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
doc says:
I dont know about future all star.And juice mode.You gonna find more players who smoke from time to time than players who dont.And most of the BEST ones do so it means nothing.@kevink-If he the dumbest player in the league making what he make I wish I was that dumb.And so do ya SMART ass.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
buck says:
pretty sure more than half the league smoke up
June 18th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Celts Fan says:
Couldn’t agree more. “Sleeper” of the draft if you could call someone w his resume a sleeper anywya
June 18th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Darkness says:
http://www.diznuts.blogspot.com
I see a lot of similarities. I followed both players and I can see something similar happening, although I think now we’ve seen the REAL Josh Howard. He’s not a legit #2 option on a contending team, more like 2.5 – better than a 3rd scorer, but not reliable enough to be 2nd scorer. And I see the same future for Crater-face Sam.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
jzsmoove says:
Raptors need a slasher/finisher like Derozan or Evans, I’m iffy on Young. Anthony Parker aint cutting it anymore.
June 19th, 2009 at 10:32 am
SoulOnIce says:
It’s a shame that he’s gonna go late in the first. Like we all know though, the league is so wrapped up in “youth” and “potential,” that teams will miss on someone who can help them immediately. This dude is gonna be super-nice in the league.
June 19th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Data says:
Sometimes measurements lie cause when I saw the combine numbers they didn’t resemble what his athleticism looks like at all on tv.
June 19th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Aaron says:
I like Young and we’ve had him high in our rankings at http://www.nbadraftdaycountdown.com for quite some time but he doesn’t have the overall game of Howard. I think Sam will be tough as nails and do great work on D and the glass but I don’t see much potential for him offensively. Also, he’s already 24.
June 21st, 2009 at 4:14 pm
harrill7 says:
If Chris Washburn had never played in the NBA then Josh Howard would be the dumbest player to EVER be there. If you need a defender who can scorer, who won’t hog the ball, then Young would be a good pick. I know he is not known for his offense, but he gets garbage points and putbacks, and a guy who does not hunt his shot always makes a good teammate.