Growing up, every kid dreams of playing for their favorite team, whether on the college or professional level.
For Jaydon Young, his dream of playing for the UNC basketball program is about to become a reality.
Young has had the opportunity to take the court at the Dean Smith Center at his previous stop with the Virginia Tech Hokies. Now, he'll call the Smith Center his home court, a goal he's wanted to accomplish for quite some time.
While it's certainly a milestone for the rising junior, he has much more that he hopes to accomplish once he officially takes the court as a Tar Heel.
Prior to North Carolina
Young played his first two college seasons at Virginia Tech, appearing in 58 games as a Hokie. He scored 306 points over those two years, draining 57 three-pointers in the process.
He's proven to be a guy who is tough to slow down when he gets going. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder scored a career-high 27 points against Miami, knocking down five of seven attempts from beyond-the-arc. He also had two games in which he tallied 26 points, showcasing his elite ability to score the basketball.
A former three-star recruit, Young committed to Virginia over the likes of Appalachian State, Elon, Old Dominion and Texas A&M (among others).
What to Expect in 2025-2026
Young's role is hard to depict, as there are certain variables that come into play.
For starters, the Tar Heels have a good amount of back court depth, so minutes could be tough to come by unless foul trouble comes into play.
However, minutes will become available if Young shoots the ball at a high level, as you could never have enough offense, especially off the bench.
One thing is for sure: he can't shoot under 30% from three-point range like he did a season ago, as his shot selection has to be much better (and it should be given the floor spacing the Tar Heels roster can offer).
Bold Prediction
Young is going to be one of the most underrated transfer portal additions in the country.
Why's that? Well, it's simple: he's going to play a major role off the bench for the UNC basketball program and will shoot 35% percent from deep, providing a viable option for Hubert Davis to rely on when his team needs an offensive spark.