YOUNG AT HEART: Freddy Young Jr., right, unloads the ball for Homestead in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Monday night, Young, a former Princeton Day School and Trenton Catholic standout, tallied 12 points to help Homestead edge Athlete Engineering Institute 69-68 as it improved to 6-2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Freddy Young Jr. was primed to make his debut for the Lincoln University men’s basketball team this past winter, but he was stopped in his tracks before he even played a game.

“I hurt my foot in the first scrimmage,” said Young, a former Princeton Day School and Trenton Catholic standout guard. “I was running through a play and I happened to break my foot. It was really unlucky but I got to learn a lot.”

While being sidelined, Young developed a better feel for the college game.

“I got to hoop in college before I broke my foot so I was experiencing it,” said  the 6’3, 180-pound Young.

“I saw how fast it was when I was hooping. When I had to sit back and watch, I got to see how slow that game actually was. I got to slow down my mental approach. I am a more complete player because I can see what everybody can do and what I can do better.”

Young did keep busy as he rehabbed his injury. “The team kept me with them throughout everything,” said Young of the squad which also includes Princeton High alum Zahrion Blue and Princeton Day School grad Ethan Garita.

“I went to every single practice, I went to every single lift. I still had to work out. I had to do everything that didn’t involve my left foot.”

That work is paying off now as Young is starring for Homestead in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

“I have known coach Phil my whole life, he has seen me play everywhere,” said Young, referring to Homestead team manager Phil Vigliano. “He saw that I wasn’t playing in the summer league and he called and wanted me to come hoop. I was happy to play with this team, I feel like we can really win.”

Last Monday, Young tallied 12 points to help Homestead pull out a 69-68 win over Athlete Engineering Institute 69-68 as it improved to 6-2.

“I definitely feel like I am at full strength,” said Young, reflecting on his effort. “I could get even stronger and even faster because I haven’t gotten to completely work out as much as I want to yet. I am growing and growing every week.”

Young has found a good fit with the Homestead squad. “I really like playing on this team, everybody can play, everybody wants to win,” said Young.  “All the players make shots, it is easy to play with them. With this group, I am more of a point guard. I play defense, I do whatever I have to do to get everybody the ball and score. I do a little of everything.”

In order to edge AEI, with made a late 20-6 run,  Homestead had to play hard down the stretch.

“We all came together, we all come from different places,” said Young of the team which got 15 points from Khalid Lewis in the victory with Steve Harris chipping in 14, Justin Carbone adding 11 and Quayson Lewis contributing 10.

“I feel like we all have a good amount of confidence. We should be beating every team that we play against because at the end of the day, we are all hoopers. Everybody plays somewhere.”

With the summer league playoffs starting next week, Young is confident that Homestead can do some damage.

“This is definitely a team that can make a run,” maintained Young. “We can fight with anybody, we can win against anybody. It all depends on the day. We have to play defense, we have to make shots.”