Pac-12 Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

11. Joe Young

A 6’2 combo guard from Houston, Young stayed in his hometown to start his college career, playing for the Cougars when that program was still in Conference USA. He actually had a really impressive sophomore season with the Cougars, but opted to transfer to Oregon, starring at the power conference level for his final two collegiate seasons.

In his junior season, Young put up 18.9 points per game in his first season in the Pac-12, dropping a career-high 36 points against Western Carolina in just his second game with the Ducks. He’d help lead Oregon to the NCAA Tournament and had 29 points in a season-ending loss to Wisconsin. As a senior, Young was good for 20.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game. He had several 30-point performances, including in a season-ending loss in the second round of the Big Dance, again at the hands of Wisconsin.

There was a lot to love about Young’s game and it really shined in his senior year. Young was the top scorer and free throw shooter in the conference and was named Pac-12 Player of the Year as a result. He helped lead Oregon to a fantastic season and really played his role well on offense after transferring to the Ducks. He wasn’t still around for the Ducks’ deeper run in the Big Dance a few years later, but he played a massive role in Dana Altman’s program during those two seasons.