WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Former Wichita East star and NBA player Korleone Young will be inducted into the American Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2025.
12 News is the first to report Young’s accomplishment.
Young started his career at East, quickly rising to become one of the top high school players in the country while playing for legendary coach Ron Allen. After Young’s junior year, he transferred to Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, then he jumped to the NBA, where he was just the 10th player drafted out of high school.
In 1998, he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons, and after a short stint in Detroit, he continued his career overseas.
Young said he wants his story to be inspiring to young basketball players in his hometown.
“You got to keep the faith,” Young said. We’ve got to get back to keeping our kids dreaming. I dreamed of everything that’s happened in my life, almost to where it’s a deja vu moment where I say ‘Have I been here before?’
“To all my youth in Wichita, you can make it, you can do it. Don’t feel overlooked. If you do, that should push you and inspire you to create opportunity for yourself.”
In addition to his hall of fame basketball career, Young continues to give back to Wichita by leading events with the Masonic Foundation and by conducting skills training and combines.
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