Video: The Next Stephen Curry Norman North and Oklahoma star Trae Young has long been compared to the NBA's best sharpshooter.
The comparisons are there.
Trae Young could be the next Stephen Curry. He shoots like former Oklahoma star Buddy Hield.
But before he made the nation take notice in a breakout freshman season for the Sooners, Young was already a sharpshooting scoring phenom.
His junior year at Norman, he averaged a gaudy 34.2 points per game along with 4.6 rebounds and assists per game while leading North to the state finals. His senior year, well, he elevated his game even further. Young averaged nearly 43 points per game – including dropping a state record 62 points in a 103-67 win over Edmond Memorial.
The No. 23 prospect in the class of 2017 according to
247Sports, Young chose to stay home at Oklahoma over a list of schools that included college basketball royalty in Kansas and Kentucky.
Read on for a deeper dive on what Young's high school career might tell us about his NBA future.
Prospect Report Card — Trae Young
High School Record: 69-13 in three seasons at Norman North.
Stats/Accomplishments: Young scored 2,445 points in his three-year career, leading the Timberwolves to the Oklahoma 6A finals in his junior and senior seasons.
Outstanding Achievement: The 2017 McDonald's All-American averaged nearly 43 points per game his senior year and dropped a state record 62 points that season. He was named the Oklahoma state Gatorade Player of the Year his final two years of high school.
Needs work: Yes, Young can shoot … and from NBA range … but the knock on the wispy 6-foot-2, 185-pound guard is his frame and durability. Will the Oklahoma one-and-done have the strength and stamina for the 82-game NBA grind? Also questions exist about his explosiveness to the basket and ability to finish. Needs to cut down on turnovers as well.
Best Fit: Young could be an intriguing pick to Atlanta at No. 3 to replace disgruntled Dennis Schroder. The Hawks have three first-round picks and use Young to start building. The Oklahoma star could also become a running mate with Kris Dunn in Chicago at No. 7. Of course, if LeBron James leaves Cleveland, the Cavs could begin the rebuild with Young at No. 8.
