MONROE - Thanksgiving for Monroe alumnus Ryan Young was a chance to reunite with family and celebrate.
Young signed a one-year contract Nov. 5 to play professional minor league basketball for the Lake Michigan Admirals in the Premier Basketball League.
"For me, it's been like a dream come true," Young said. "As a kid and you are out in the driveway with the lights on, that's why you put in all the late night work."
Young, a 2005 Monroe graduate, will play in his first exhibition game tonight at Lake Michigan Catholic High School in St. Joseph, Mich. The Premier Basketball League includes 11 teams and was started after a rift between several owners of the American Basketball Association in 2008.
The closest team is the Sauk Valley Predators based in Sterling, Ill. The Predators play their home games at Sterling High School and at Highland Community College in Freeport. The Michigan Admirals practice and play home games at Lake Michigan Catholic High School.
The PBL regular season tips-off in January.
Young helped Monroe make a run to state in 2005 where the Cheesemakers lost in the state semifinals. He went on to Concordia University in Chicago where he became the school's seventh all-time scorer eclipsing 1,000 career points.
"I think going to Monroe and Concordia definitely groomed me to be the player I am," he said. "I'm going to represent Monroe well and we will see where it goes from there."
Young has a workout every morning including yoga, followed by a shoot around and then practice every night. After trying out for the team in October, he wasn't guaranteed a spot. With the NBA lockout still ongoing, he knew he had to earn his keep.
"It (the lockout) was obviously on my mind," Young said. "I was told if someone walked in the door I wasn't assured a spot. I wasn't too worried. It could have happened."
Now Young is focused on extending his stay. He could have his one-year contract renewed at the end of the season.
"That will be determined by how I play," he said.
As a 6 foot, 1 inch shooting guard, Young will have some obstacles to overcome.
He said his biggest challenge will be guarding players 6-4 to 6-7.
With the NBA still entangled in a labor stalemate, Young could pop up on television down the road.
He said if the NBA season is canceled, the leaders of the PBL are trying to get some games on NBA TV this season.
Young credited his parents Tim and Kris Young, his sister Marissa and his wife Courtney for supporting him in pursuit of his dream of playing professional basketball.
"I wouldn't have got this far without their support," he said. "I always thought I had the skills. Sometimes you have to know someone to get there."
Young signed a one-year contract Nov. 5 to play professional minor league basketball for the Lake Michigan Admirals in the Premier Basketball League.
"For me, it's been like a dream come true," Young said. "As a kid and you are out in the driveway with the lights on, that's why you put in all the late night work."
Young, a 2005 Monroe graduate, will play in his first exhibition game tonight at Lake Michigan Catholic High School in St. Joseph, Mich. The Premier Basketball League includes 11 teams and was started after a rift between several owners of the American Basketball Association in 2008.
The closest team is the Sauk Valley Predators based in Sterling, Ill. The Predators play their home games at Sterling High School and at Highland Community College in Freeport. The Michigan Admirals practice and play home games at Lake Michigan Catholic High School.
The PBL regular season tips-off in January.
Young helped Monroe make a run to state in 2005 where the Cheesemakers lost in the state semifinals. He went on to Concordia University in Chicago where he became the school's seventh all-time scorer eclipsing 1,000 career points.
"I think going to Monroe and Concordia definitely groomed me to be the player I am," he said. "I'm going to represent Monroe well and we will see where it goes from there."
Young has a workout every morning including yoga, followed by a shoot around and then practice every night. After trying out for the team in October, he wasn't guaranteed a spot. With the NBA lockout still ongoing, he knew he had to earn his keep.
"It (the lockout) was obviously on my mind," Young said. "I was told if someone walked in the door I wasn't assured a spot. I wasn't too worried. It could have happened."
Now Young is focused on extending his stay. He could have his one-year contract renewed at the end of the season.
"That will be determined by how I play," he said.
As a 6 foot, 1 inch shooting guard, Young will have some obstacles to overcome.
He said his biggest challenge will be guarding players 6-4 to 6-7.
With the NBA still entangled in a labor stalemate, Young could pop up on television down the road.
He said if the NBA season is canceled, the leaders of the PBL are trying to get some games on NBA TV this season.
Young credited his parents Tim and Kris Young, his sister Marissa and his wife Courtney for supporting him in pursuit of his dream of playing professional basketball.
"I wouldn't have got this far without their support," he said. "I always thought I had the skills. Sometimes you have to know someone to get there."
