Huskers Add Second Signee of the Spring

Lincoln -- Nebraska Coach Barry Collier announced on Thursday that he has added a second spring signee, as Danai Young has signed a national letter-of-intent to play for the Huskers. Young joins Kedrick Ford who signed a letter with Nebraska earlier this week.

The 6-4, 190-pound Young comes to Nebraska from Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kan., and will have two seasons of eligibility with the Huskers. Like his future Husker teammate Ford, Young was a third-team all-conference pick in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference, one of the nation's most powerful junior college leagues.

A native of LeMoore, Calif., Danai (pronounced duh-NAY) was second in scoring for a 26-6 Cowley team last season, averaging better than 14 points per game, according to Young's coach, Mark Nelson. Young added 5.3 rebounds per game and led his team in steals with 61, while shooting better than 51 percent from the field.

Collier said Young will give Nebraska a versatile wing player, who can play both the small forward and shooting guard positions.

"Danai will give us a player with excellent ability, who can help us in a number of ways," Collier said. "He was definitely Cowley's best defender, he's a good shooter who can really take it to the basket on the offensive end. We hope that he can come in and provide some immediate competition at a couple different positions."

Nelson said Young has the physical tools to help Nebraska immediately and also noted his versatility on both ends of the floor.

"From what I've seen of Coach Collier's teams, Danai is the type of kid they are looking for," Nelson said. "He is a very athletic player and his strengths are slashing to the basket, playing very good defense and he is an excellent rebounder from a guard spot. Danai scored a lot of his points going to the basket and we even posted him up a little bit in our offense."

Young's signing leaves Nebraska with one available scholarship for the 2000-2001 season.

2000-2001 Husker Roster Breakdown
(Scholarship Players Only)
Seniors (5): Cookie Belcher, 6-4, G; Steffon Bradford, 6-6, F; Rodney Fields, 6-2, G; Kimani Ffriend, 6-11, C; Danny Walker, 6-1, G
Juniors (5): Cary Cochran, 6-1, G; Kedrick Ford, 6-2, G; John Robinson, 6-1, G; Louis Truscott, 6-7, F; Danai Young, 6-4, G/F
Sophomores (0)
Freshmen (2): Eddie Baker, 6-6, F; Brian Conklin, 6-11, F/C*
*-Redshirted in 1999-2000