Spring Break
Young looking to take over leadership role
Stephen McNulty
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Sports
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The Pirates lost their top two scorers last year in Sam Hinnant and James Legan, and will be a young squad this year with just one senior and four juniors on the roster.
Experience may not be a problem, however.
Young, who is the primary ball-handler, has played in every game for the last two years. As a sophomore last season, Young finished second in the NCAA in assists per game with 7.57 and set the ECU single season record for assists with 227.
While the Pirates will be looking to replace the offensive output of Hinnant and Legan, Young feels that he and ECU can have just as successful of a season as last year.
"We still have great shooters and a lot of guys who can finish at the rim. I definitely feel like I can put up the same numbers as last year," Young said.
ECU head coach McCarthy has high hopes for Young.
"I think Brock can be a better point guard and average less assist, he can be more diverse," McCarthy said, who is set to enter his third season at the helm of the Pirates.
Young was third on the team in scoring last year, averaging almost 11 points per game while starting all 30 games at point guard. He scored in double figures 14 times, including five consecutive games between Jan. 31 and Feb. 14.
"I would anticipate that he would score more points, not necessarily because he has to but because he has improved his skill level, his conditioning and his understanding of the game." McCarthy said.
Last year, the Pirates set school records for three-pointers made, but this year the team will look to the post more often.
"I am very confident in the post," Young said. "Chad Wynn made great progress this summer and Darrius (Morrow) can step out and hit the 15-footer. We have Quan (Daquan Joyner) back this year and he will help us out in the post as well."
McCarthy didn't hesitate to list the great attributes of the sixth ECU player to ever dish out over 300 career dimes.
"Clearly he is a great passer, but he can create for other people and set the tone," McCarthy said. "When he is really getting after it defensively, everybody picks it up, and when he's pushing the ball offensively, everybody runs a little harder. If Brock is penetrating, everyone spots up a little better. He literally makes everybody on the floor better than they are."
Young, a Raleigh native, compares his game to fellow North Carolina born point guard Chris Paul, who also happens to be his favorite player.
ECU also happens to play Paul's former team, Wake Forest on Nov.15 at the Greensboro Coliseum as well as Tennessee five days later on Nov. 20 in the Virgin Islands.
"I think it will be a true test for us. If we can hold them, it will show that we can definitely do good in conference play." Young said about playing the Demon Decons and Volunteers.
Young also has high aspirations for himself along with ECU.
"Personally, I want to beat my assist record from last year, and as a team, I want to win the conference," Young said. "Conference USA is not a slack conference."
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
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