Following a riveting 2024-25 campaign, Oklahoma men’s basketball program has announced that Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young has been hired as an assistant general manager for the Sooners.
It’s not a sinecure role either. Young’s earning power and popularity will naturally help the school draw in recruits. However, his “responsibilities will include assisting with the evaluation of high school and transfer portal prospects, as well as helping negotiate player contracts…” Ultimately, the former Sooners standout “will lend support in OU player personnel and strategic roster management planning.” He’ll also “serve a critical role in helping build student-athletes’ brands and maximizing their potential.”
Young also made an announcement on ESPN’s NBA Today, saying: “It’s exciting to be a part of this. Being from Norman, playing there obviously, these are exciting times… I’m looking forward to being in this new role” (h/t Tom Green of 247 Sports).
Hawks’ Trae Young Joins Oklahoma In Assistant GM Role
With this move, Young has joined Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry as the only other active player in U.S. pro sports with a NCAA front office role. Like Young, Curry has been named as the assistant general manager of his alma mater, in this case Davidson. Unsurprisingly, Young mentioned Curry when discussing the connection between college basketball’s NIL era and the passion that he has for the Sooners basketball program.
“I think, obviously, today the game has changed with NIL,” Young notes. “College basketball, the way it’s changed, I think it’s the perfect time for guys to be more involved with the schools that helped make them what they were or helped coach them to being what they were. I know for someone like Steph and me, we represent our schools off the court, in the locker rooms and talk trash all the time. So, now, to be able to represent it even more is going to be even more special.”
With that in mind, Young has “pledged to donate $1 million to support the championship efforts of (the Sooners) program.”
Official Statements
In an official statement, Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione says, in part:
“Trae is a son of Norman, Oklahoma, and he’s given so much to our city and its people. He has a strong affinity for this place and his commitment to ensuring our community is a thriving one is truly unmatched. He’s also an OU legend who, in his time here and since, continues to achieve excellence both on and off the court.
With this appointment, we’re taking his commitment to Norman and to OU to the next level, dedicating our mutual support together to the success of our men’s basketball program. His mind is made for this game, and we’re incredibly fortunate he’s in our corner wanting to put his talents and innovative thinking toward strengthening our program. On top of that, his continued financial generosity buoys our efforts in ways few other schools can enjoy.”
Sooners men’s head basketball coach Porter Moser also released a statement. The most significant takeaway is that Moser appreciates Young’s mind and accomplishments, and believes the team’s players will as well:
“He is a basketball junkie in so many ways. He’s obviously one of the biggest and most recognizable on-court talents in the world, so he brings immediate credibility with younger players. But I can tell you that Trae also pays close attention to the national basketball landscape and is dialed in to all levels of the sport. His knowledge, coupled with his desire for our program to be the best it can be, will absolutely move us forward.”
That crop likely won’t include freshman guard Jeremiah Fears, who should be a lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Nonetheless, with Young now part of the program, replacing talents like Fears might have just gotten a lot easier.
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