Jaydon Young arrived at the University of North Carolina via the Transfer Portal with the unique distinction of not asking for money in exchange for this move. While he will indeed receive money, it’s rare to find a player with this approach in the new era of NIL contracts.
Jaydon Young’s Unique Transfer Portal Approach
This detail about Young’s transfer from Virginia Tech to the Tar Heels was revealed on the latest episode of the Tar Heels Illustrated podcast. Renowned college basketball analyst Andrew Jones discussed the topic, as well as some of Young’s playing characteristics:
“He’s been very aggressive. He’s got a lot of spirit…he’s sort of a forgotten guy. He’s a throw-in, because he didn’t ask for money, that kind of thing, although he’s getting money,” Jones said.
The analyst highlighted the guarantee that Young can represent as a versatile player coming off the bench:
“Wherever he’s going to be in the rotation, but toward the back end of the rotation makes us a deeper team than last year in reliability…”
“In a guy like Jadon Young you’ve got a confident guy, a guy who’s had some big scoring games in the ACC. So it’s not like he’s wet behind the ears, I don’t think you have someone who’s going to go out there and defer the whole time.”
“He will play into contact, he’s not just there to wear a uniform and say ‘Wow, look mom, I made it. Take a picture of me’. He’s there to play ball.”
Young had a breakout 2024-2025 season with the Virginia Tech Hokies, solidifying his role as a key contributor before transferring to the North Carolina Tar Heels. He played in 32 games, starting 10, and averaged 8.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
His shooting efficiency was mixed, hitting 34.7% from the field and 29.6% from three-point range. However, he remained a reliable scorer from the free-throw line, shooting a solid 81.5%.
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Defensively, he averaged 1.7 rebounds and 0.6 steals per game.
Young’s season was defined by his strong finish, scoring double figures in his last six games. He exploded for 27 points against Miami and followed up with 26 points versus Syracuse, showcasing his ability to take over games. His three-point shooting dipped compared to his freshman year, but his increased minutes and shot volume contributed to the decline.
After the season, Young entered the transfer portal and committed to UNC, bringing his scoring ability and experience to Chapel Hill.