April 25, 2008

PITTSBURGH--University of Pittsburgh junior forward Sam Young announced on Friday that he will return to Pitt for his senior season. Young, who will not declare for the NBA Draft, announced his decision two days before the NBA Draft Early Entry declaration deadline on Sunday, April 27.

"In discussing my options the last couple of weeks with Coach Dixon and my family, I feel that it is in my best interest to return to Pitt for my senior year," Young said. "With the players we have returning to the team, we have an opportunity to accomplish something special next year. I can't wait to get the season started."

With Young back, Pitt returns three of its five starters along with seven of its top 10 letterwinners from the 2007-08 Big East Championship team. Additionally, Pitt returns each of its top three scorers (Young, DeJuan Blair and Levance Fields) and its top two rebounders (Young and Blair) to a team that finished 27-10 overall, won the Big East Tournament title and advanced to its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament.

A Clinton, Md. native, Young earned Associated Press All-America honorable mention honors following a junior season which saw him lead the Panthers in scoring (18.1 points per game) and set the school's single season scoring record with 668 points. The Big East Most Improved Player Award winner, consensus All-Region selection and Naismith and Wooden Award nominee, Young became just the seventh player in school history to earn All-Big East First Team honors. In mid-March, he led Pitt to its second all-time Big East Tournament title and earned Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors after averaging 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks during the Panthers' four contests at Madison Square Garden.

During his three-year collegiate career, Young has scored 1,194 points (11.2 ppg.), grabbed 487 rebounds (4.6 rpg.) and blocked 79 shots. He has registered six career double-doubles and notched double figure scoring 63 times in his 107-game career. In 2007-08, he scored over 20 points in 15 games and set a school-record with 36 double figure scoring games.

Young, Fields and Tyrell Biggs comprise the 2008-09 Pitt senior class. In its first three seasons, the trio has compiled an 81-26 overall record (.757 winning percentage), advanced to three NCAA Tournaments (one Sweet Sixteen) and captured one Big East Tournament title (2008).

--30--