How Memphis basketball's 'forgotten guy' Jayhlon Young is gearing up to make an impact

First, it was Mikey Williams.

Then came Jalen Cook, Khalif Battle, Ques Glover and Caleb Mills. Also, Jaden Bradley, Tyrin Lawrence, Antonio Reeves and most recently, Jahvon Quinerly.

These are but some of the names that have dominated much of the conversation surrounding Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway’s dogged effort to stabilize the backcourt. Mills and Quinerly, both Power Five transfers, are projected starters. Williams, a 4-star recruit, has been in the spotlight since April, when he was arrested on multiple felony gun charges (a situation that has not been resolved).

All the while, Jayhlon Young has flown well under the radar.

“He’s just kind of been the forgotten guy,” said Mike Bables, the founder of Texas-based BigTyme Sports Academy, who has spent years training Young.

But that’s OK by Young, who committed to Memphis on May 3. He has gotten used to being overlooked — and overcoming that.

The 6-foot-2 point guard with two seasons of eligibility left was an unranked recruit out of Garland, Texas, when he signed with Grambling State. But before he even got there, Young was completely squeezed out of his spot when a starter decided late to return. Young spent the next two seasons at Baton Rouge (La.) Community College, then signed with UCF, where he started 12 games in 2022-23.

The Knights went 8-4 with Young running point (including wins over Florida State, Oklahoma State and Memphis), and he averaged 6.9 points, 3.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds as a starter.

But Young’s credentials did not exactly move the needle in Memphis. His commitment was overshadowed by Hardaway’s pursuit of players with significantly higher profiles.

“Honestly, I don’t care if I’m talked about or not,” Young said. “To me, the only person I have to acknowledge is Penny. He makes the calls. He makes the substitutions. I feel like he’s going to give me a good shot.”

Young is preparing for exactly that. He has spent every day of the past two-plus months working with Bables, whose open runs have become renowned for their star power. Among the most regular participants are former Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas (now at Texas), former first-round draft pick R.J. Hampton, and former Central Michigan star Braylon Rayson.

“He knows what he’s getting into – guys with bigger names, 5-stars,” Rayson said. “But he’s not new to the D1 system. He just has to stay locked in.”

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Young has not yet reported to Memphis for summer workouts, although he is expected to arrive this weekend, he said. But training with Bables, Young has virtually lived in the gym and the weight room to be ready for the Tigers’ three-game exhibition trip to the Dominican Republic, which begins Aug. 1.

“This summer has been good for me,” said Young, who has remained engaged with the Tigers, having regular Zoom meetings and film sessions with assistant coach Faragi Phillips. “Last season, I played at 175 (pounds) and I’m at 182 now. I want to try to get to 185, because I feel like there were moments (last season) when I wasn’t physical enough on defense. I don’t want to deal with that anymore. I want to be able to harass people.”

Bables, who played at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and West Texas A&M before also playing professionally overseas, is helping Young improve offensively. Young can play either guard position. He shot 37% from the field and 36% from 3-point range at UCF last season. But Bables spends as much or more time reinforcing to Young the value that Hardaway places on defense.

"There's not too many guys who can turn dudes three times before they get to half-court," Bables said.

Based on what Rayson has seen, Young has a chance to make a significant impact at Memphis.

“He looks good,” said Rayson, the third-leading scorer in Central Michigan history, behind Mel McLaughlin and Dan Majerle. “He’s more explosive than he was (last summer). But I think his strength is his IQ and ability to adapt. He can be a scorer, a point guard, a true defender.

“He’s just a grown athletic dude that can play above the rim and play fast in transition. He knows how to play winning basketball. He'll fit in just fine."

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Tigers basketball Jayhlon Young OK under the radar