YOUNG AT HEART: Freddie Young Jr. of YSU dribbles the ball against Princeton Supply last Monday night in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Young tallied 14 points and made a key late steal to help YSU rally to a 59-58 win over Princeton Supply. Wesley Robinson scored 17 points in the win with Jordan Poole adding 13 as YSU improved to 4-1. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
With YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) bringing a 3-1 record into its clash last Monday night against Princeton Supply in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, Freddie Young Jr. sensed that the YSU squad was primed for a battle.
“We have a group of young men ready to fight every night,” said Young. “I am excited for the season, I feel confident in our team. We have only gotten more mature over the years.”
It became an uphill fight for YSU which found itself trailing two-time defending league champion Princeton Supply 32-22 at halftime.
“We just wanted to cut down on the little mistakes that we have no business making in the beginning,” said Young. “Then we ended up making those same mistakes in the second half.”
Trailing 52-41 with 6:05 left in the second half in the game played in the Princeton High gym, YSU reeled off an 18-6 run to pull out a 59-58 win.
“We fell behind again but we are a family and we are going to fight for each other,” said Young. “Five people together is always better than five people who aren’t together. We want to fight together as a family.”
Young, for his part, made a key steal in the waning seconds of the contest and then drained two free throws to give YSU the margin of victory.
“That was big-time; I was reading his eyes and it looked like he was about to give the ball up,” said Young, a 6’3 guard, reflecting on his steal which came in an in-bounds play. “I took the opportunity and converted it into two points. I am grateful for it.”
As Young stood at the free throw line, he invoked a higher authority.
“I gave all of the praise to God,” said Young. “In that moment, I said thank you God and shot the shot.”
With YSU improving to 4-1, Young believes the team is headed in the right direction.
“Every win is a confidence builder,” said Young. “Every win and every loss, you learn something from it regardless. Today was definitely a good step forward.”
Young, who scored 14 points in the win, is determined to keep YSU moving forward.
“My role this year, like always, is that I am a leader,” said Young, who starred at PDS and Trenton Catholic before going on to play at the college level for Lincoln University. “My role is lead everyone as best I can and all while I have to stay emotionally in control myself, and physically healthy. I have to check all of the boxes all the way down.”
The pair of Wesley Robinson and Jordan Poole helped YSU stay in the game as Robinson scored 17 points and Poole added 13.
“Wesley and Jordan are Burlington Township guys, they are very good,” said Young. “Everybody on this team played YSU at some point. Wesley just graduated from Manhattan College, he is a great player. Jordan is carrying the load just as well.”
The bonds the YSU players have developed over the years bodes well for the squad as it heads into the homestretch of the summer league.
“Everybody who you see on the team, whether it be this year or previous years has been in some form family to YSU,” said Young. They have been in a program or mentorship and we continue to build them.”