Thaddeus Young
Selected 12th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Thaddeus Young entered professional basketball after playing college ball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Born on June 21, 1988, in New Orleans, Young attended Mitchell High School before his college career and went on to become a citizen of the United States competing at the highest level of professional basketball.
Over the course of his career, Young played for multiple NBA franchises, most recently the Phoenix Suns. In 2018, he became the fifth player in NBA history among those with at least 800 games played to average 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 49 percent field goal shooting, and 30 percent three-point shooting — a statistical combination reflecting consistent production across multiple categories. Young also received the NBA Hustle Award, a recognition given for effort-based contributions on the court.
Quotes by Thaddeus Young
A lot of people throughout Tennessee are going to remember us. I just don't know if they are going to consider us some of the greatest players or the greatest players. I guess we're all going to be remembered just by coming through this city (Memphis) and coming through Jackson and Bolivar.
We are very strong when you think about it like that. Just look at the seniors that are top-ranked in the country and the number of Division I scholarships that guys from West Tennessee had signed - that's your answer right there. Those are numbers that don't lie.
Willie and Wayne are great players. They work hard just like I work hard. Whoever voted for this award felt like Willie was a better choice than me, so there's nothing you can really do about it.
I think it was just two good teams that both had our stretches. We just had a better stretch.
