Young, Crispin Work Toward Bigger Roles

They both shoot hundreds of jump shots a day at Pauley Pavilion while their teammates are watching film or dressing. They are part of the team, yet separate.

Until next season, anyway. Veteran guards Ray Young and Jon Crispin keep reminding themselves that their time will come.

Young is redshirting after having played three seasons at UCLA and will be a senior next season. Crispin, who transferred from Penn State, is sitting out according to NCAA rules and will be a junior next season.

“Redshirting has been harder than I thought it would be,” Young said. “I know I’m doing the best thing for me and the program, but during games, especially, it’s very hard to sit and observe.”

Young travels with the team, rooming with Matt Barnes on the road. He played in 94 games the last three seasons, starting 22 and averaging 6.0 points. Although a gifted offensive player, his shooting percentage overall and from three-point range dropped each season.

“I’m spending the year going back to basics, focusing on my fundamentals and getting my stroke back,” he said.

Crispin also is a shooter, averaging 8.2 points and making 36.8% of his three-point attempts in two years for Penn State. He scored 26 points in an upset over Kentucky last season and helped the Nittany Lions advance to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament.

He doesn’t travel with UCLA, but works hard every day in practice, anticipating a significant role next season.

There should be ample playing time for both players next season. Leading scorer Jason Kapono, a junior, is expected to jump to the NBA and the next three leading scorers--Billy Knight, Matt Barnes and Dan Gadzuric--are seniors.

Young and Crispin are expected to share shooting guard duties, playing opposite point guard Cedric Bozeman, and could be on the floor together in some alignments.