Three seconds left on the scoreboard, he steps up to the 3-point line, shoots and scores a buzzer beater shot that tied the game and put the Red Cedar League team into overtime. This moment in seventh grade was the best moment for senior Charlie Young in his basketball career.

Young has been on the court since first grade when he had to stay after school for Kid’s Club. His friend’s mom, Marcy Shepherd, got him to step onto the court and shoot some baskets with her. She showed him how to shoot free throws, and since that day he been pursuing to become a better player.

The first time Young joined a basketball team was in the third grade for a Community Ed team.

“There has always been something about Charlie that I liked,” said Shepherd. “Day after day he would practice how I showed him. I enjoyed watching him grow and become a better player.”

According to fellow teammates, Young has been a huge contributor to the basketball community in Stockbridge.

“Charlie is a good contributor to the team offensively, for sure. That’s not even a question, almost tying the record on 3’s two time this season,” said captain Tyler Jacobs. “Charlie has also bettered his defensive performance over the last few years and has become a decent defender.”

Young exemplifies his tenacity and vigor to his fellow squad members not only as a leader but as a

player, according to his teammates.

“He’s always there no matter what,” Jacobs said, “Trying to work hard to make others better. He sticks to his role as a senior and doesn’t take lightly to underclassmen advice.”

According to Jacobs, Young is a passionate player because he has played basketball his whole life, and Jacobs has never seen anyone care so much about the sport.

Not only is Young a good teammate, but his coaches like his determination.

“He works hard,”  assistant varsity boys basketball coach, Rick Weaver, said. “He came in over break and worked on his shooting.”

Young known for his shooting struggles with letting his shots go if he misses one, according to Weaver.

Young depicts a glimpse of his passion for the sport in his blog entries for Senior English.

In a recent one, Young discusses what his long term relationship with basketball has been about.

“Basketball to me is everything, but who I am as a person means far more to me than that,” Young writes. “You don’t want to be good at basketball and be really cocky about it because that’s how you lose friends or fans. People will judge you. You need to be composed at all times, so those people won’t be able to judge you. If you give in to them talking bad about you, it’ll only hurt your character and who you are as a person.”

Young continues explaining that there is more to the sport than what happens on the court.  “Basketball is only a small component in your life unless you plan on sticking with it and trying to play college or professional sports. You should focus more on how your life after high school will be more than how your high school sports life is. You should make sure that your grades are good enough so you can go to the college you want. If you do all things that are required of you, then you should be able to do whatever you want in life. If you’re good enough you could walk onto a college sports team but that all depends on how you perform outside of basketball,” said Young.

With Young’s high school career quickly coming to an end he plans on going to Jackson Community College (JCC) for two years and then transfer to Michigan State University (MSU) to continue his basketball career.

“He’s a good kid,” said Weaver. “I enjoyed coaching him and I definitely will miss him next year.”