Korleone Young Scores 30.769% of his Career NBA Points vs. Magic (1999)

Korleone Young, a native of Wichita, Kansas, declared for the 1998 NBA Draft following his senior year at Hargrave Military Academy. The Detroit Pistons selected him in the second round, 40th overall (one pick after Rafer Alston and one prior to Cuttino Mobley). Often cited in the case against high schoolers going pro, Young played in just three NBA games, all with the Pistons during the lockout-shortened 1999 season. Scouts and those around the league have suggested Young may have benefitted from a few years of seasoning in college (he had contemplated heading to Georgetown or even joining his AAU teammate JaRon Rush at Kansas). Instead, he headed to Detroit to begin his NBA career as a teenager with raw skills and little real life experience. “As he walked through the doors, I was listening to him,” said former Detroit Pistons teammate Joe Dumars. “When he got on the court, you could see he had talent, but you knew the process was going to be hard because he was just so young for the league. He sounded like a young high school kid all of a sudden thrown into the NBA world.” Following his rookie season, Young was released by the Pistons. “I just thought that his game needed so much improvement,” said Alvin Gentry, the Pistons' head coach at the time. “Needed improvement in ballhandling, needed improvement from transitioning from an inside player in high school to being a wing player. Defensively, guarding guys on the floor. I just thought he just needed a ton of improvement.” Young attended the Philadelphia 76ers training camp the following fall when he encountered a fit of bad luck. First, he was struck from behind and robbed of a significant amount of jewelry while walking in downtown Philadelphia. Second, he failed to catch on with the Sixers. Young's departure from Detroit resonated. “That really messed me up because I didn’t want to leave. I was in a childish mind-set that this was my home now. I didn’t feel like I could bounce around. That summer I was depressed, with $300,000 [in the bank]. Endless money. I could do what I want. But I wasn’t happy because I wasn’t in Detroit no more. So that summer I went and bought $120,000 worth of jewelry and then the next year they robbed me in Philadelphia when I was walking in the middle of the city. I only had $30,000 insured. I had bad guidance, made terrible decisions by not just insuring it.“ After playing professionally overseas through much of the 2000's, Young now resides in his hometown, Wichita, Kansas, looking to contribute to his community by using basketball as a means of leading the city's youth on a worthy path. Recommended Reading: http://grantland.com/features/the-life-former-prep-pro-nba-player-korleone-young/