YEARWOOD, WAYNE
6-7 F (WEST VIRGINIA, 1985-87)
A native of Montreal who played for coach Wayne Kidd at Westmount HS. Projected to enrol a Virginia prep school, Yearwood ended up enrolling at Jamestown (NY) JC where he spent one semester and then returned to Canada. Known to be agile and quick and a good rebounder. Transferred, as a sophomore, to West Virginia for the 1984-85 season.
As a soph, Yearwood played in 27 games, for an average 14.4 mpg. He hit 49-107 (.458) from the floor, and 12-24 from the line, while garnering 80 boards (3.0 rpg), 38 fouls (fouling out once), 10 assists, 36 turnovers, 6 blocks, 9 steals and 110 points, for a ppg of 4.1. The Mountaineers, coached by Gale Catlett, finished 20-9 overall and captured the Atlantic Ten regular season crown with a 16-2 record. But they lost in the postseason conference tournament and weren’t invited to the NCAA tourney. They lost to Virginia 56-55 in the opening round of the NIT.
As a junior in 1986, Yearwood started 12 of 25 games, playing an average 25.4 mpg. He hit 94-186 (.505) from the floor, and 35-63 (.556) from the line, while garnering 113 boards (4.5 rpg), 60 fouls (fouling out 4 times), 20 assists, 45 turnovers, 9 blocks, 26 steals and 223 points, for a ppg of 8.9. The Mountaineers, coached by Gale Catlett, finished 22-11 and 15-3 (tied 2nd) in the Atlantic 10 before losing 72-64 to Old Dominion in the opening round of the NCAA tourney. Very versatile and athletic, Catlett said.
The following September, Yearwood was one of five West Virginia players who were alleged to have been involved in a sexual assault in a University residence hall. But a grand jury refused to return indictments and coach Gale Catlett suspended two players for the season and three others until the end of the first semester on Dec 21. Yearwood was one of the latter.
As a senior in 1987, Yearwood started 29 of 31 games, playing an average 31.8 mpg. He hit 163-378 (.431) from the floor, 23-67 (.343) from the arc and 50-81 (.617) from the line, while garnering 169 boards (including 65 on the offensive glass and a 5.5 rpg), 80 fouls (fouling out twice), 51 assists, 93 turnovers, 14 blocks, 39 steals and 399 points, for a ppg of 12.9. The Mountaineers, coached by Gale Catlett, finished 23-8 overall and 15-3 (2nd) in the Atlantic 10 play. They lost 64-62 to Western Kentucky in the opening round of the NCAA tourney. Yearwood spent the year switching between forward and guard and was a streaky outside shooter. Also played wide receiver for the West Virginia football squad and spent 15 months in jail after being convicted of dealing cocaine.
YOUNG, KALIF
6-9 F (PROVIDENCE, 2017-2020)
From Vaughan, Ontario and Orangeville Prep in Mono, Ontario, where he averaged 15 ppg, 12 rpg and 3 apg as a senior.
As a freshman in 2017, Young started 5 of 33 games, playing an average 13.1 mpg. He hit 44-85 (.518) from the floor, 0-1 from the arc and 17-46 (.370) from the line, while garnering 106 boards, including 46 on the offensive glass and a 3.2 rpg, 56 fouls, 13 assists, 33 turnovers, 17 blocks, 12 steals and 105 points, for a 3.2 ppg. The Friars (coached by Ed Cooley) finished 20-13 overall and 10-8 (tied 3rd) in Big East play before being defeated 75-71 by U.S.C. in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
As a sophomore in 2018, Young started 25 of 35 games, playing an average 16.6 mpg. He hit 60-111 (541) from the floor and 30-61 (.492) from the line, while garnering 142 boards (including 49 on the offensive glass and a 4.1 rpg), 71 fouls (fouling out twice), 22 assists, 30 turnovers, 21 blocks, 14 steals and 150 points, for a 4.3 ppg. The Friars (coached by Ed Cooley) finished 21-14 overall and 10-8 (tied 3rd) in Big East play. They fell 73-69 to Villanova in the postseason conference tournament final and then lost 73-69 to Texas A&M in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
As a junior in 2019, Young started 14 of 33 games, playing an average 15.9 mpg. He hit 52-109 (.477) from the floor, 2-6 from the arc and 19-37 (.514) from the line, while garnering 133 boards (including 51 on the offensive glass and a 4.0 rpg), 63 fouls, 21 assists, 15 turnovers, 16 steals, 25 blocks and 125 points, for a 3.8 ppg. The Friars (coached by Ed Cooley) finished 18-16 overall and 7-11 (tied 8th) in Big East play. They defeated Butler 80-57 in the opening round of the conference’s postseason tournament before losing 73-62 to Villanova, and then falling 84-72 to Arkansas in the opening round of the NIT.
As a senior in 2020, Young started 19 of 31 games, for an average 19.9 mpg. He hit 64-123 (.520) from the floor, 1-2 from the arc and 27-49 (.551) from the line, while garnering 153 boards (including 64 on the offensive glass and a 4.9 rpg), 84 fouls, 28 assists, 17 turnovers, 20 steals, 19 blocks and 156 points, for a 5.0 ppg. The Friars (coached by Ed Cooley) finished 12-6 (4th) in Big East play and 19-12 overall. Postseason play was cancelled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
YOUNG, JESSE
6-10 C (GEORGE MASON, 2000-2003)
From Peterborough, where he led the Collegiate Institute Raiders to a provincial title, averaging 25 ppg and 13 rpg. Wooed by several major programs, he opted for George Mason. “Jesse plays hard,” sad Patriots coach Jim Larranaga. “He runs the floor. He rebounds. He mixes it up. He knows he has to improve, get stronger. At the same time, he’s also very talented.”
As a freshman in 2000, Young started 4 of 30 games, for an average 11.8 mpg. He hit 41-98 (.418) from the floor, 1-10 from the arc and 20-40 from the line, while garnering 67 boards (including 34 on the offensive glass and 2.2 rpg), 17 assists (0.6 apg), 26 turnovers (0.9 tpg), 7 steals (0.2 spg), 9 blocks (0.3 bpg), 48 fouls (fouling out twice) and 103 points, for a 3.4 ppg (and a game-high 13). He saw limited minutes as a freshman playing behind CAA player of the year George Evans. The Patriots, coached by Jim Larranaga, finished 19-11 overall and 12-4 (tied 1st) in Colonial play.
As a sophomore in 2001, Young started all 30 games, for a 23.3 mpg. He hit 97-147 (.557) from the floor, 0-4 from the arc and 51-76 (.671) from the line, while garnering 177 boards (including 70 on the offensive glass and 5.9 rpg), 18 assists (0.6 apg), 47 turnovers (1.6 tpg), 16 steals (0.5 spg), 28 blocks (0.9 bpg), 75 fouls (fouling out once) and 245 points, for an 8.2 ppg (and a game-high 22). The Patriots, coached by Jim Larranaga, finished 18-12 overall and 11-5 (tied 2nd) in Colonial play, then captured the postseason tournament and earned an NCAA berth, where they lost in the first round to Maryland 83-80. “The biggest thing Jesse needed when he came in was to get strong,” Larranaga said. “He’s worked very hard at that the past two years. Toward the end of last year, he began to see the benefits of that work. We do believe the progress will continue. He has to go from being (George Evans’) support player to be being the go-to guy. He has to go from eight points a game to 15-16 a game. He is capable of that.”
As a junior in 2002, Young started all 29 games, playing an average 31.6 mpg. He hit 148-306 (.484) from the floor, 3-6 from the arc and 125-175 (.714) from the line, while garnering 244 boards (including 85 on the offensive glass and an 8.4 rpg), 41 assists (1.4 apg), 77 turnovers (2.7 tpg), 29 steals (1.0 spg), 30 blocks (1.0 bpg), 68 fouls (fouling out 4 times) and 424 points, for a 14.6 ppg (and a game-high 26). The Patriots, coached by Jim Larranaga, finished 19-10 overall and 13-5 (2nd) in Colonial play, before losing to St. Joseph’s in the opening round of the NIT. Young earned all-Colonial first-team honours and was a second-team all-Virginia selection. He was also a two-time CAA player of the week selection.
As a senior in 2003, Young started 25 of the 26 games he played, toiling an average 30.3 mpg. He hit 110-245 (.449) from the field, 2-17 (.118) from the arc, and 79-105 (.752) from the line, while garnering 220 boards (including 77 on the offensive glass and an 8.5 rpg), 75 fouls (fouling out 3 times), 31 assists, 62 turnovers, 17 blocks, 21 steals and 301 points, for a ppg of 11.6. Young was selected a Colonial all-star. The Patriots, coached by Jim Larranaga, finished 16-12 overall and 11-7 (4th) in Colonial play.