Just A Kid From Norman Pt. 2

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| Macie West

Trae Young gets interviewed after his ceremony.

- Macie West, Sports Editor

On Friday, February 18, Trae Young returned to Norman North High School for his jersey retirement ceremony. 

Trae Young attended Norman North from 2013 to 2017. After high school, he attended the University of Oklahoma to continue his basketball career and later entered the 2018 NBA Draft after his freshman season. He was drafted 5th overall to the Atlanta Hawks.

Trae Young talks to the crowd at his ceremony. (| Macie West)

During his career at Norman North, Young had numerous accomplishments. These include: 2016 & 2017 Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year, 2017 Member of McDonald’s All American Team, 2016 Member of US Men’s National Team, 2016 & 2017 Daily Oklahoman Super 5 Team, Member of the 2016 OSSAA Class 6A Runner-Up Team, all-time leading scorer in OSSAA Class 6A Boys Basketball, Norman North all-time career points leader (2445 points), career average 34.2 points per game, averaged 43 points per game his senior year, Norman North all-time assists leader (365 assists), career average 4.6 assists per game, career average 4.6 rebounds per game, career total 268 rebounds, career total 225 steals, 6A All-State Tournament Team, COAC Player of the Year, OCA District Player of the Year, OBCA Region 5 Player of the Year, and 2 time Tulsa World Player of the Year. 

In 2017, Trae Young was a 5-star recruit who committed to the University of Oklahoma over schools like Kansas and Kentucky. Although he only played for Oklahoma for one season, he accomplished: 2018 1st Team College All American, 2018 Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year, 2018 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, 2018 Big 12 First Team, and 2018 NCAA Scoring and Assists Leader. 

After Young’s freshman season, he announced that he would be declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft. For the 5th pick of the NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select Trae Young. He has led his team to many wins and a couple of successful seasons, as well as: 2019 NBA All-Rookie 1st Team and 2020 & 2022 NBA All-Star. 

The retirement of the #11 jersey at Norman North now hangs in the gym in memory of the accomplishments made by Trae Young. 

Trae Young’s jersey is revealed in the North Gym. (| Macie West)