Trae Young plans to pick up a few more assists at the University of Oklahoma but in a whole new way.
Young said he accepted a role as assistant general manager for Sooners basketball and will help Porter Moser’s program in multiple ways, starting with a $1 million donation pledge.
“As someone who grew up in Norman and played at the University of Oklahoma, stepping into the role of assistant GM for OU Basketball is a huge honor,” Young said. “This program has such a rich history, which I am fortunate to have been and continue to be a part of. In my new role, my focus is on helping contribute to OU’s winning culture, working alongside the coaching staff and front office to bring in the right players to help us compete and succeed at the highest level.”
In one season at Oklahoma, Young led the nation in scoring and assists, averaging 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game in 2017-18. He was drafted fifth overall in the 2018 draft and his league rights were traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Atlanta Hawks for the draft rights to Luka Doncic.
Young, 26, leads the NBA in assists (11.5 per game) this season and has played his entire career with the Hawks. He attended Norman North High School and was a McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit who turned down offers from Kentucky and Kansas to stay home. He continues to contribute to his hometown. He made a donation of more than $4 million toward construction of the Young Family Athletic Center, a 120,000-square-foot sports complex.
A four-time NBA All-Star, Young is the second noteworthy player to return to a general manager-type role within his college program. Stephen Curry became the assistant general manager for Davidson earlier this year.
–Field Level Media
