Willis Young

Willis George Young


Born:
July 25, 1909
Chicago, IL

Died:
October 5, 1995
Wheaton, IL 

Career
1927-28 Delphi High School - Indiana (High School)
1927-28 Englewood YMCA (Independent)
1929-30 Redeemer Church - Chicago (Independent)
1929-30 Englewood YMCA (Independent)
1930-31 Redeemer Church - Chicago (Independent) 1931-32 Schuessler Athletic Club of Chicago (AAU)
1932-33 Schuessler Athletic Club of Chicago (AAU)
1933-34 Schuessler Athletic Club of Chicago (AAU)
1934-35 Chicago Duffy Florals (Independent)
1935-36 Chicago Duffy Florals (MBC)
1936-37 Chicago Duffy Florals (MBC)
1937-38 Whiting Ciesar All-Americans (NBL)



Only appeared in the playoffs for Whiting.
Allegedly attended Wisconsin, but cannot find him on Wisconsin rosters.

Was selected All-American at the AAU tournament in Kansas City in 1933. 6'1


He is NOT William F. Young (1925-2012), member of the Wisconsin basketball Hall of Fame

Hammond Times, February 18, 1938, has article about Whiting signing Marty Cullen and Willie Young. Young is described as the "former Wisconsin ace."

Update 3/22/2017
While searching for Chicago Duffy Florals player Harry Lucas, I noticed he had played some semi-pro ball with a Willis Young. Since Lucas and Young were also teammates for the Florals in the MBC, I think we found that "Willie" is not "William" but "Willis". Looking through Chicago-area newspapers, I find repeated references to Willis who is apparently from Delphi, Indiana (which is near Lafayette). Some poking around genealogical websites and I find a family of Youngs from Delphi in the early 20th century with a Willis V. Young who was born in 1909 and died in 1981. All these pieces seem to fit.

Update 6/16/2020
Willis Verl Young was found to be 5'6, which is not close the the 6'1 height listed as the player. So I did some more searching and found Willis George Young who was 6'1 and is more than likely the correct guy.

Source:
Journal and Courier (Lafayette), October 7, 1927
Suburbanite Economist, February 17, 1928
Suburbanite Economist, March 27, 1928

Suburbanite Economist, April 2, 1929
Suburbanite Economist, March 25, 1930
Journal and Courier (Lafayette), February 7, 1931



Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/y/youngwi01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=youngwi01