UCI adds Young

Alex Young, a 6-foot-1 point guard who was the 2011 Oregon 4A Player of the Year, has signed a national letter of intent with the UC Irvine men’s basketball program.

Young averaged 20.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior last season at Phoenix High in Phoenix, Ore. He led the Pirates to their first state championship in 60 years.

“I am truly excited to add Alex Young to our basketball family at UC Irvine,” Anteaters Coach Russell Turner said. “He is a proven winner and brings the game and character qualities that will help us continue to elevate our program.

“Alex possesses an all-around game. His dribbling, passing and shooting skills are all strong, and he is an outstanding leader both on and off the court.”

Young shot 50% from the field last season, including 39% from three-point range (56 for 144) for coach Glenn Johannes’ squad that finished 23-6.

Young had 17 games of 20 points or more in 2010-11 with a high of 33 against Newport in a game that he also grabbed 12 rebounds. He had 10 games of double-digit rebounds with a high of 14 versus North Valley.

Young was a second team all-state selection as a sophomore when he averaged 14.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

— From staff reports