[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110210/SPORTS0607/102100413/1004/SPORTS/State-tour-Alex-Young-could-next-IUPUI-star-make-NBA?odyssey=nav%7Chead

The more NBA calls he fields, the less Ron Hunter is surprised.

Alex Young, the current star of Hunter’s IUPUI basketball team, has moved onto the league’s radar. The 6-6 junior would be the second IUPUI player in recent years to make the NBA, joining George Hill, who is in his third season with the San Antonio Spurs.

"What helps Alex is a lot of NBA teams are saying, ‘How did we miss on George Hill? We’re not going to miss on this guy,’ " Hunter said. "Alex is getting additional attention because of what George has done."

Hill is averaging double figures (11 points per game) for the second year in a row for the Spurs, who have the best record in the NBA. Young leads IUPUI in scoring (20.0) and rebounding (6.9), but it’s his performance against marquee opponents that has attracted attention as much as his season-long success.

When the Jaguars hung with then-No. 2 Ohio State on Dec. 9 in a 75-64 road loss — the teams were tied in the second half — Young had 20 points, hitting 4-of-8 3-pointers, and six assists. A little more than a week later, Young had 19 points and eight rebounds in a 56-54 loss to No. 7 San Diego State.

So far, scouts from 24 NBA teams have seen Young.

"When you go play a team like Ohio State when they’re ranked No. 2, if you have a really good player, those are the type of games you really figure it out," Hunter said. "He carried us for 40 minutes. Outside of (the Buckeyes’ potential No. 1 draft pick Jared) Sullinger, he was the best player on the floor, and it wasn’t the coach who knew it. Everybody in the stadium knew it.

"Then to go play San Diego State, in front of a bunch of NBA scouts, he did it again in a two-point game."

Young has been helped by the mentoring of Hill.

The plan when Young entered IUPUI from Northwest was to give him a year playing alongside Hill. Then Hill emerged as a first-round NBA draft pick as junior and into the fire went the freshman.

Young had success out of the gate — 15 points at Indiana University in his third game — hit a wall briefly but still led Summit League freshmen in scoring and set a school record for points by a freshman (324), breaking Hill’s mark.

After his freshman year, Young spent part of the summer working out with Hill, coming off his rookie season in the NBA.

"It was very helpful because it’s so different from high school. You have to prepare like it’s a job, concentrate and really do your homework," Young said. "You have to be a leader. You have to carry yourself a certain way.

"That summer with George really helped me out. It gave me more experience than most sophomores around the country."

Young took off his second year, averaging 18.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. This year, he has added to his game, with his maturity, patience and shot selection improving.

Young won’t have some of the benefits Hill did if he chooses to test the NBA waters as a junior. In the past, college players had nearly two months to declare for the draft and work out for teams before deciding whether to return to school. It gave them direct feedback from a host of NBA teams. Now the time frame is basically two weeks, and prospects have little time to work out while still in class.

"That hurts guys like Alex Young at the mid-major level because you have to make a decision on what somebody says," Hunter said. "You can’t go prove your worth. George got to prove his worth. But make no mistake about it, Alex is an NBA player."

The Summit League Athlete of the Month for January, Young has helped IUPUI win seven of its past eight games, moving into second place in the league standings. During that streak was a 100-88 victory over Oakland (Mich.) that ended the Grizzlies’ conference-record 20-game winning streak.

The NBA may come calling, but for now there’s another dream closer.

"We have regular-season goals. We want to win the conference tournament and get to the NCAA Tournament," he said. "That’s my focus."
Prime-time performer

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I first mentioned Alex on this site last season. I said he’d be the next IUPUI player to get drafted.

The article doesn’t mention it, but he also attends workouts with Eric Gordon, Courtney Lee, Gordon Hayward, Rodney Carney and Jeff Teague over the summer. He gets better every summer.

This is a kid I’m proud of since he’s close to me and I’ve seen how hard he works. He deserves the exposure.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I first mentioned Alex on this site last season. I said he’d be the next IUPUI player to get drafted.

The article doesn’t mention it, but he also attends workouts with Eric Gordon, Courtney Lee, Gordon Hayward, Rodney Carney and Jeff Teague over the summer. He gets better every summer.

This is a kid I’m proud of since he’s close to me and I’ve seen how hard he works. He deserves the exposure.

[Author]

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