27 ppg as a freshman in what was likely the nation’s best conference (top to bottom — no one besides KU was elite, but everyone besides Ia. St. had more than a puncher’s chance every night). That’s not enough to vault Young ahead of the genetic freaks (Ayton, Bagley, JJJ)— or ahead of Doncic, who had similarly impressive results in Europe and a game that more obviously translates. But only a supremely self-confident scout would stake his reputation on spotting something in someone else’s game that would outweigh Young’s ridiculous, measurable results. We’ll never know for sure, but I’ll bet Young was #5 on most teams’ boards.
That said, Young is going to be useless as a rookie — because he’ll be as confused as every other rookie, and he can’t compensate with sublime physical gifts in the way most top-5 picks can.
@ConigliarosPotential is going to have to wait two years to have any inkling whether his Hawks pulled a coup or shot themselves in the foot (again).