Feb. 22, 2005

Charleston, Sc - When Citadel coach Pat Dennis pays tribute to his lone senior tonight, he won't have a long list of accomplishments to read to the crowd at McAlister Field House.

Kedron Young didn't score 1,000 career points or set a school record for steals or even get to play that many minutes during his four years on the Bulldogs' basketball team. But as Young plays his final home game today against Davidson, Dennis says few walk-on players have meant more to the program than the muscular 6-1 guard from Berkeley High School.

In fact, Dennis has taken the unusual step of naming Young as the team's honorary captain for the remainder of the season.

"Kedron is one of my favorite players that I've ever coached here," Dennis said. "The kid has an unbelievable enthusiasm and energy for life every day and is the most positive kid I've ever had. If was to start a business, he's the first guy I would hire." Young, who has averaged 3.8 minutes in 12 games this season, had a solid career at Berkeley High, averaging 19 points and making all-region and all-state squads as a senior. He also has good genes -- he's related to pro football players Courtney Brown and Joe Hamilton on his mom's side -- and played three years of Stags baseball for David Beckley, now an assistant coach at The Citadel.

So when Young decided he wanted to walk on at The Citadel, Dennis was glad to have him, though both knew that playing time would be tough to come by for Young.

"You tell them it's going to be very difficult for them to play right away," Dennis said of his walk-ons.

"You don't want to take away their hope and their dream. But you tell them we have 13 guys on scholarship, and they are going to have to work very hard and come in and prove something every day in practice."

Truth is, a basketball team could not function without guys like Young, who understand their role and are willing to push the regulars hard in practice.

A team with 15 guys complaining about their minutes would not get very far.

"You see them on every team, the guys on the end of the bench," Dennis said.

"They are there for the love of the game and because they love being part of a team."

Said Young, "I just love being around the game, the coaches and the players. These four years, I've made such great friends that I will have for a lifetime. That's more important than anything else."

While players such as standout freshman Warren McLendon can look at the boxscore to see how they are doing, Young looks deeper for his sense of achievement.

"I get satisfaction from making other players better in practice," said Young, who is majoring in health and wellness and plans to study hospital administration at MUSC. "That's where it all starts. Everybody has their role. Warren's role is to be our star and score a lot of points; my role is to work hard and keep the bench up and work our guards hard in practice."

And it's not like Young can't play.

"He's always been right on that border line, maybe good enough to play more, maybe not," Dennis said. "But he's got a good skill level that really helps us in practice, and not one day has he ever worried or complained about playing time."

Young scored his career high of 10 points last year in a 78-68 loss to Wofford, a game in which the Bulldogs trailed by 20 points before Young sparked a 17-3 run.

"I will always remember that game," he said.

Who knows? As he gets his second career start in his final home game tonight, maybe Young will have another game to remember.