World news – Rutgers’ Jacob Young meets a well-known team in Houston

Rutgers Gaurd Jacob Young couldn’t help but look ahead when he saw that the University of Houston, where his father played, could keep up with his team.

INDIANAPOLIS – Rutgers Guardian Jacob Young doesn’t worry about loyalty when it comes to Sunday’s second round game at the NCAA tournament.

The youngest son of Michael Young, founding member of the University of Houston’s famous Phi Slama Jama, knows exactly for Who his father will care when the Scarlet Knights with the 10th seed play the Cougars with the second seed at Lucas Oil Stadium.

« I have to make sure he’s wearing a Rutgers shirt, » said Jacob, a 6-2 year old. « I am his son, I am his blood. »

Jacob spent much of his childhood with the UH basketball program, with which Michael held various roles after the end of his career. Jacob would come to work with his father. He discovered old tapes from Michael’s game days alongside future Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler when the Cougars made three direct Final Four appearances from 1982 to 84 and lost the last two trips in the championship game.

« I’m just properly pumped, « said Jacob. “I just think about what my dad did for the program in the 80s. I’m just trying to beat Houston. Who wouldn’t want to beat your hometown team? « 

Jacob said he had » a lot on his mind « when Rutgers – who last appeared in an NCAA tournament in 1991 – was paired with Houston in the same half of the Midwest.

The Scarlet Knights initially had to win a tournament game for the first time since 1983. A 13-point performance from Young helped Rutgers beat the seventh Clemson 60-56 on Friday night and gave Jacob a shot at his father’s alma mater.

« We have to get this win so we can play it, « said Jacob. » You don’t understand what’s on my mind. « 

Young wears the number 42, the same shirt number his father wore at UH. Michael’s number retired hangs on a wall – next to Olajuwon, Drexler, and Elvin Hayes – at UH’s Guy V. Lewis development facility. Older brother Joe played for the Cougars from 2011-2013 before moving to Oregon.

Bis On Friday, Jacob was the only player on the Rutgers lists with NCAA experience. Jacob, a St. ar of Yates High School, originally signed with the Longhorns and played two seasons from 2016-18.

UH coach Kelvin Sampson said Young was seen as a « big scorer » after high school but had become a  » This season Young was second on the team with 14.5 points per game, led the Big Ten with 1.83 steals and finished ninth in the field goal with 47.3 points Percentage to get an Honorable Mention at the toughest conference in college basketball.

« I know one thing, if we get the win I’ll go back to Houston with a big smile, » said Jacob.

Joseph Duarte has been a sports reporter for the Houston Chronicle since August 1996. He is currently involved in college athletics with a focus on the University of Houston. He previously wrote about the Houston Astros from 1998 to 2002, the Houston Texans from 2002 to 2005, and the Texas Longhorns from 2005 to 2009. He joined the Houston Chronicle in 1995 as part of an internship at the Sports Journalism Institute.