November 14, 2007

Hornets.com will be interviewing visiting players throughout the 2007-08 regular season during their trips to New Orleans, as part of our 1-on-1 feature. On Wednesday, we chatted with New Orleans-born Thaddeus Young, a rookie forward for the Philadelphia 76ers.

As part of the NBA Cares program’s efforts to help revitalize the city of New Orleans during its recovery from Hurricane Katrina, the 19-year-old decided to donate $5,000 to the local Dryades YMCA. In conjunction with Young’s donation, the Hornets purchased 100 tickets for children from the YMCA.

Hornets.com: You were born in New Orleans and your uncle, Ken Carter, has been a Hornets season ticket holder for several years. So which team is he rooting for tonight?
Young: Hopefully it’s us! [laughs] We actually had a little talk about that, and he was saying he’s not sure who he’s going to be rooting for tonight. I told him, ‘You better be rooting for us – we need a win.’ ” [Philadelphia had lost three straight entering Wednesday]

Hornets.com: How many Hornets home games did you attend in past seasons?
Young: A few. I remember the first game I saw in this arena, the Hornets were playing against Cleveland and I got to see LeBron James as a rookie. He was my favorite player at the time, and I got his autograph after the game. My uncle actually told LeBron that in a couple years (Young) would be out there on the court playing against (James).

Hornets.com: What prompted you to make the $5,000 donation to the local Dryades YMCA?
Young: I just wanted to do something for kids here. I know when I was growing up, I didn’t have enrichment program or a great basketball facility to use. Kids need a place where they can get off the streets and clear their head. For me, that place was the gym. That’s why I decided to do it.

Hornets.com: Entering draft night, did you think there was a good possibility that you would be picked by New Orleans at No. 13?
Young: Yes. I knew it would be (taken at) 12, 13 or 14. I thought, ‘Wow, if the Hornets take me and bring me home, it’s gonna be crazy. I’m going to need a lot of tickets!’ [laughs]

Hornets.com: What is your impression of the player taken immediately after you in the draft, Julian Wright? People have already compared you two since you were picked so close to each other.
Young: I played against him in AAU a couple times and actually worked out with him a lot at Tim Grover’s gym in Chicago. He’s a great guy and a good friend. He’s got that herky-jerky game where he’s all over the place. But he’s a really good player, and I like his game.

Hornets.com: You’ve appeared in three of the Sixers’ seven games entering tonight. What are you some of the things you’re focusing on to try to become a bigger part of the rotation as a rookie?
Young: I’m just trying to learn all the plays, play multiple positions and do whatever I can to help my team win. The big things they are asking me to do are rebounding and playing defense. Whenever I score, it’s a bonus.