For former Bluejay Antoine Young, basketball is a way of life. He was born into the game, raised with a ball in his hands and grew up on the court. After wrapping up his career at Creighton, Young traveled the world following the game. Now, he is letting it take him down a different path.
Young showcased his potential from an early age. So much so, in fact, that he became the youngest commit in Creighton history by pledging to then-coach Dana Altman before his sophomore season at Bellevue West, a high school nine miles south of campus.
“It was awesome,” Young said about playing for his hometown team. “I was always so excited to get there, and when I finally got there, obviously we had some struggles, but with the fans and the support that is around this town, it was probably the best choice that I’ve made.”
Young, a 6-foot point guard, was a three-year starter for the Jays, finishing his career 17th in school history in scoring with 1,342 points and third in assists with 505. The Jays went 97-46 in his four seasons on the Hilltop. After graduating in 2012, Young took his talents overseas to pursue a professional career.
Young played in Geneva, Switzerland and Guadalajara, Mexico, before signing with ZZ Leiden, a team in Holland, where he won a Dutch championship with a 36-9 record. Grant Gibbs, another former Bluejay, is currently playing in the same league.
Young compared the atmosphere of international experiences to that of his days in college.
“It’s kind of just like [at Creighton],” Young said. “People treat you really well. The city that you’re in supports you.
“Obviously it’s not like playing in front of your hometown and having the things that we had. The facilities and things like that are something that you learn to appreciate after you leave Creighton. For the most part, I had a good experience. It makes you grow up a lot, the things you have to learn being on your own in a different country.”
After his season in Holland concluded, Young returned home with the intent of continuing his playing career. However, he suffered an ankle injury that resulted in surgery in October 2013. At that point, he began to think about life beyond the painted lines.
But not too far beyond them.
“[Coaching has] always been something that I knew I wanted to do when I was playing,” Young said. “With the injury, I was just like, ‘Man, I miss basketball so much.’ You start to realize how much an injury can take you away from the game.”
Young reached out to his former coach at Bellevue West, Doug Woodard, and joined the Thunderbirds for the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach.
“It was a nice opportunity for me to hop on with Coach Woodard and just be around basketball and touch a basketball every day and give those kids the knowledge that I do have about the game. I learn something every day, but for the most part my mind’s a little more complex than the high school level.”
Young has maintained a close relationship with Woodard throughout his college and professional careers, which made joining Woodard’s staff an easy decision.
“He was a coach that made me grow up at a young age, especially when I committed to Creighton. I became very mature at a young age, to kind of realize where things were going on the basketball court and where my life was going after that. He’s someone I’ve always stayed in touch with and he’s helping me out now. He’ll always be in my corner.”
With Young on the bench, the Thunderbirds took state last season, giving Young another title to go with the one hecaptured as a player during his freshman year.
Bellevue West senior guard Malik Hluchoweckyj said Young, like former Thunderbird and Nebraska Cornhusker Erick Strickland who coached with Woodard a few years ago, brings a unique voice to the bench.
“They can tell you how they went through it and can talk you through stuff, and provide a different perspective [from] what the head coach can give you,” Hluchoweckyj said.
However, Young is more than just another voice yelling instructions from the sidelines. Hluchoweckyj said the 25-year-old coach still laces up his sneakers every day in practice to run with the scout team.
“It’s fun being on scout team … I can kind of relate with them, just being young and being able to kind of see what they see, maybe things that Coach [Woodard] really doesn’t see that I can point out,” Young said. “It’s fun for them to get out there and realize it’s not always going to be a JV kid you’re going to go against; you’re going to practice against tough competition.”
Hluchoweckyj, one of the best athletes in the state, is committed to play at Bowling Green next season. Hluchoweckyj’s attacking style and scoring mindset are traits that defined Young’s game as well.
“We work out after practice and stuff like that,” Hluchoweckyj said. “He’s really made me see the game in a different way this year. I haven’t had the best year, but through that I can say I feel so much more confident now that I have a better understanding of the game, and that will help me when I go to college.”
Young still has energy at 25 years old. He said the decision of whether or not to pursue more playing opportunities is a daily struggle. However, for now he is fully committed to helping Bellevue West make a run at a second straight state title.
“Right now, I love coaching at the high school level,” Young said. “This will probably be my last year [at Bellevue West]. I’m looking for a grad assistant spot, hopefully at a big time college. I’m just talking to a lot of people. That’s kind of my passion, what I always wanted to do is coach at a big level.”
In five years, Young sees himself as a primary recruiter for a big time program at the collegiate level. Short-term, Young and the Thunderbirds are preparing for district play, which begins on Saturday.