He's coming back.
Ohio State forward Kyle Young has chosen to stick around Columbus for a fifth year of college basketball. He's able to return for the 2021-22 season due to the NCAA's ruling that last season did not count against a winter athlete's eligibility clock.
1 more year pic.twitter.com/2bdyzVKn3o
— Kyle Young (@kyle_young25) April 16, 2021
Young's return means fifth-year point guard CJ Walker, who intends to begin his professional career after this season, will be the only senior leaving the program. Jimmy Sotos is expected to be back next season, too, once he's recovered from a separated shoulder that required surgery.
The return of Young bolsters Ohio State's frontcourt, which should again feature him along with E.J. Liddell, Zed Key and Ibrahima Diallo. The Buckeyes also fully intend to add another player to the mix, whether it be Efton Reid or someone in the transfer portal.
Young, a 6-foot-8, 225-pounder known for his energetic play style, tough nature and physicality as a rebounder, has improved annually as a scorer both around the rim and as a shooter from behind the arc. He averaged 8.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 blocks and 0.4 steals in 26.3 minutes per game as a starter while hitting 57.9 percent of his shots and 43.3 percent of 30 3-point attempts.
ONE MORE YEAR@Kyle_Young25 has announced he will be returning next season for an additional year as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes!#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/6LcRZoZH2a
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) April 16, 2021
Young has already played 108 games at Ohio State, starting 65 of them, meaning he'll be among the most experienced players in Ohio State history by the time his career ends. David Lighty currently holds the record for most games played (157), and he's followed by Aaron Craft (148), Sam Thompson (146), William Buford (145), Jon Diebler (144), Shannon Scott (143), Jamar Butler (139), Dallas Lauderdale (138), Marc Loving (134) and Amir Williams (134).
In deciding whether to stay in school for a fifth year or begin his professional career, Young had to consider his health. He missed a game against Michigan State due to a concussion, but lower-leg pain has bothered him for years. The fourth-year from Canton has sat out numerous practices this season to recover. Trevion Williams' inadvertant elbow then gave him another concussion that ended his season prematurely.
Ultimately, that wasn't enough to push him out of college quite yet. He has unfinished business.
