Tech Talk Live Notes: Jaydon Young And Mike Young

Virginia Tech men’s basketball guard Jaydon Young and head coach Mike Young joined Zach Mackey and Mike Burnop on Tech Talk Live on Thursday night to recap the Hokies’ loss to Louisville and look ahead to Saturday’s game vs. Syracuse (noon ET, CW).

Jaydon Young

How are things?

Getting a lot better. Developing with the guys, building better chemistry. I think that’s showing on the court. 

Talk about how you got to Virginia Tech.

My journey with Virginia Tech started during the summer going into my junior year. Coach [Christian] Webster started recruiting me really heavily. He’s the one that ended up offering me. Three weeks later, I had knee surgery. A lot of my offers went away and a lot of people stopped recruiting me. Virginia Tech stayed persistent. Coach Webbie was calling me every day to check in. It wasn’t really about basketball; it was about family, it was about school, things like that. That’s what really brought me to Virginia Tech. The guys Coach Young likes to bring in are a group of good guys.

What was it like trying to come back from that knee injury?

It was tough. It took me a while to get over it mentally. The physical part didn’t really take me long. I was actually back a little earlier than I was supposed to. Mentally, it took me a while, even into the season a little bit. It was tough trying to get over that hurdle. It was overall pretty good.

You talked about the culture here. How about the culture at Greensboro Day School with  Freddy Johnson? He’s won how many state titles? What was it like playing there?

I learned a lot playing for Coach Johnson. We had a lot of guys that were better than me during my freshman year, a lot like it was here last year. I learned a lot. Playing for Coach Johnson was definitely not the easiest at first. After getting to know him and the staff, they didn’t want anything but the best for me. Listening to those guys and taking the advice that they were giving me helped me out a lot in my senior year. 

How was it seeing the Hokies practice at your high school while they were getting ready for the ACC Tournament?

It was a surreal feeling. Seeing them use the gym that I played in and knowing that I was going to be there, it was a whole lot to take in. My dad and I watched the practice and we just talked about going to the game. It was crazy knowing that was going to be me next year. 

What position did your father play and how tall is he?

He played combo guard. He’s about 6-3, maybe a little shorter now, he’s getting old. My dad is like my best friend. I can talk to him about anything. I’ve learned a lot from him. Almost everything.

What are the differences you see in this year’s team compared to last year’s?

Coming in, we knew it was going to be difficult. We took it upon ourselves to do stuff outside of basketball. I think that really helped us a lot. Coming into the year, it didn’t look like it on the court because we needed that bond on the court. Outside of basketball, we were still keeping each other up. I think now it’s translating to the court too.

Tell us about your family.

I’m the oldest, I’m 21. The next brother is 18, he plays football at VMI. Next brother is 16, he plays basketball for my dad. I have two younger sisters, 15 and 14. One is a dancer and the other one runs track.

How often do they get to come out and see you?

They try to get to every single home game, just two hours away. My sisters are going to miss Saturday, they called me almost ready to cry. They try to come to every home game. Away games they watch on TV.

What was clicking for you against Miami?

It was a good feeling. Everybody who’s been watching this year can tell I’m having a rough time. Seeing the first few fall at Miami was a good feeling. At halftime, coach was feeding me confidence. Coming out in the second half, he subbed me in pretty early and I made my first one. Lynn Kidd actually said something to me along the lines of, “Are you going to miss one?” I shot the next one, it went in and I just kept going.

Can you tell if you’re feeling good about your shot on the first shot of the night or does it take time?

Normally I can tell in warmups. I can feel it in my arms. Usually if I’m missing shots in warmups, I’ll talk to my trainer about what I need to do to help that. I normally want that first shot to be a layup. If it’s a wide open 3, I’ll take it. Normally I can make a layup and get a rhythm going.

Have you made a more conscious effort to get in the paint and closer to the basket?

Yes. Coach Webb had a conversation with me and said, “I don’t want Virginia Tech Jaydon, I want Greensboro Day Jaydon.” Greensboro Day Jaydon attacks the basket, shoots open shots, doesn’t let his confidence go down. That’s what I’ve been trying to do lately.

You had one point against Boston College and turned around with 27 the next game. Do you strive to be more consistent?

Every day. I get in the gym before practice and get more shots up after practice, it’s a routine. I try to stick to that. Even if I have a bad game, I stick to my routine.

You guys have won five road games this year. That’s the most since 2022-23. What is it about this group in terms of tenacity in road games?

I think this group is really tough everywhere. That’s our personality. We want to play hard no matter what’s going on. On the road, my teammates pick on me a little bit and say, “You can make shots on the road, but when we get home, you miss everything.” I think we’re a fighting team, so on the road it’s not anything different.

What was going through your mind against Louisville when you guys started out so slow?

It was frustrating. Our mentality on the bench was to come in and help our teammates out. That’s what we’re here for. We came in the game and did what we needed to do to bring us back and it was a team effort from there. 

You guys go on a lot of these big runs in the second half. What’s the key to being able to do that as a player?

Staying level-headed. Not getting too high or too low. And listening to what the game plan is. Limiting turnovers too. I think fighting back comes in our personality.

Turnovers will really get you.

Every time. Coach Young lets us know, too.

How do you balance playing at a slower pace while keeping the energy high?

That goes back to the game plan. They give us the outline of what we need to do. I think for the most part, our team abides by that. We try to adhere to everything they’re telling us to do. It’s really hard for them to be frustrated with us when we lose.

In that Notre Dame win, how did it feel to turn it up and make those plays late in the game?

It feels great. A lot of people say it’s not a light switch, but it seems like we have one a little bit. Towards the end of the game, we definitely pick it up and fight a little harder.

There was no shootaround for that game. Does that make a difference?

I’m a shootaround guy. I like to shootaround and have a little walkthrough to refresh my memory. I like to get some extra shots up after shootaround. If I don’t get a shootaround, I can’t get a feel for the ball or anything.

What’s your favorite place to play in the ACC outside of Cassell Coliseum?

I was a Tar Heel fan growing up, my whole family was. Just walking in there last year felt crazy. When I was younger, my dad took me to ‘Late Night With Roy’ and stuff like that. The last time we went, he told me, “The next time we’re in here is because they’re recruiting you.” They never recruited me. I called him last year and told him, “You said I was gonna be in here.”

What was it like playing at Auburn?

Auburn was nuts. I don’t remember much of it. MJ Collins wasn’t playing that night so I knew I had to be playing a lot of minutes. I was locked in and terrified all day. I stepped in and played pretty well.

Are you a guy that gets nervous the day of a game?

College really helped me calm down. High school, I was a real nervous guy. In college, you gotta put your own work in. When you’re doing your own work, it gives you more confidence.

What do you want to improve on heading into next year?

Being more of a three-level scorer. Last year was mostly threes. I’m getting to the basket more this year, but still a lot of threes. Just being more balanced.

What is the feeling when you hit one of those deep threes?

Feels like practice. I do it every single day. Coaches get kind of mad at me because I walk in the gym, that could be my first shot. I do that pretty often.

Who do you live with?

Brandon Rechsteiner and Conner Venable.

What are those two guys like?

They’re funny. They’re a lot. Brandon is a more serious and funny type of guy. Conner is just a funny guy, but kind of stays to himself.

What’s it like when Rechsteiner gets up so early? We’ve talked to him in the past and he says he’s a morning guy.

Over the summer, I didn’t have a car. Brandon was supposed to be my ride, but he gets up at 4 a.m. every day. I’m not getting up at 4 a.m. every day. About 5:15 every morning I was trying to find a ride and Brandon is already at the gym getting a workout in. He’s one of the hardest workers I know.

What do you like to do for fun off the court?

I like the beach a lot. My teammates and I took some trips to a few lake houses. We went to a lot of amusement parks. I’m an outside guy. 

Do you like going on roller coasters at amusement parks?

Oh yeah, all the time. Hands up and everything. I do it all.

What’s the most fun one you’ve been on?

Probably the Fury at Carowinds.

Do you like tournament time?

I love the ACC Tournament. I can’t wait to play in it this year. I think the tournament is up for grabs this year. There are a lot of good teams in the ACC.

Will you have a hard time getting enough tickets?

More than likely, yes. I think my teammates will help me out, though.

What can we expect from you in these next three games?

A 110 percent effort. Gonna play hard on defense and hopefully it translates to offense.

The bench has been great. these last few games. Is that a point of pride?

Definitely. Even in practice. We do starters against the bench and we want to beat them every time. We push each other to be better.

What’s it like playing inside the Cassell when it’s full?

It’s crazy to see the place jumping. Looking around and taking in the noise is something else. It’s a surreal feeling being in a gym like that. Especially seeing it growing up.

What’s it like with Ben Burnham?

He’s a character. I love him. We crack jokes every day. He’s a great guy to be around. He’s the hardest-playing guy I’ve ever met. He’s going to give 110 percent effort. When we lose, he’s the one screaming. He’s a competitor.

You major in Sports Media & Analytics here at Virginia Tech, what do you want to do with that major and how are classes going?

Everything is going great so far. I chose it because of my knee surgery, never know what could happen when you’re playing basketball. I want to be around the game for a long time. 

Do you want to be a broadcaster?

It’s up in the air right now. Could be. I want to play for a very, very long time first.

What do you know so far about Syracuse?

Defensively, they switch it around a lot. Zone and man looks. Offensively, it’s hard to point out one thing that they do. They have a big that’s pretty good, a few guys who can really shoot it well, and a guy who’s relentless in transition. They have a few role players that play well too. They played well against NC State up at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Mike Young

Thank you for coming out and joining us.

What else would I do on a Thursday evening at 6:30? I’m with some of my closest friends and the two of you, good to see everybody.

You’ll be lost without it.

For the first time in my career, I almost forgot you. I was riding home and Margaret reminded me that I had Tech Talk Live. I thankfully had plenty of time. Margaret took care of me.

What are your overall thoughts on the last week?

We’re playing better basketball. I was pleased to gut that thing out in South Florida. Jaydon Young has had two really good games back-to-back. He was good against Miami and Louisville. Picking his spots, his balance is good, he’s defending at a high level, rebounding well from the guard spot. Rechsteiner is playing well, Pat Wessler has put together some good games for us. Mylyjael [Poteat] practiced today and felt good, he’s handling everything well. This flu has gone through our practice facility with a number of players. I think we’ll have everybody in uniform and ready to rock. 

What would you like to see from Jaydon Young looking forward?

Just continue to improve. He’s a good basketball player, he’s smart. His dad is a high school coach down in Greensboro. I think young people come into their own at different intervals. He’s seeing the game better. He’s a really smart person. I want daily improvement in the weight room for him. He’s a good ball player.

Do you like the driving element of Jaydon Young’s game?

He’s capable because of that big strong body. He had a nice one in the second half that was a much-needed basket for us. Got from the left side of the floor to the right and finished it. He’s been a two-level scorer for us. He’s a capable driver. We have to get fouled more. This team has not gotten fouled as often as we should. We have a hard time at times getting into the bonus. All of those areas are improving here as we head to the end of the season.

When you go back and look at Jaydon, that’s quite a tradition down at Greensboro Day with Freddy Johnson.

Freddy Johnson is a dear friend. I’ve recruited a number of his players. He churns them out every year. He’s got Cooper Flagg’s brother on his team right now. He’s a good coach. It’s always something that I’ve paid attention to when recruiting out of high school, it matters who they played for. Is that person a great coach? A number of the guys we’ve had in my six years here have come from a number of good high school programs. The learning curve isn’t nearly as sharp as it would be for a guy who played for a team that just rolls the ball out.

What did you see out of Ben Burnham?

I should’ve mentioned him off the jump as playing very well. He was a big key to our win in Miami. I thought he was really solid on Tuesday against Louisville. He’s a confident player. I wish he would shoot the ball more. He hesitates sometimes when he comes out of an action. I think it surprises him that he’s so open. That’s why we run the darn action, it’s going to be open, plant your feet and put it in the air. Man, is he shooting the ball well. He’s been a treat to have a round, great fella. He cares. Winning is important to him. I have thoroughly enjoyed coaching him.

How do you feel about your bench production?

First, we need more production from the guys that take the floor first. Preferably, we don’t start the game with three turnovers. That was the strangest box score I’ve ever seen. Wessler, Brandon, Ben, Jaydon all had good games. Tobi [Lawal] and [Jaden] Schutt really struggled. You need your good players to be good players, and they weren’t on Tuesday. If they could have given us a little bit more, we would have won that game. We have enough of a sample size now to know what those two are capable of. Having Mylyjael down was hard. We’ll need him on Saturday with Eddie Lampkin. I’ve never seen somebody as big as that man in all my life. We’re making progress.

With the turnaround at Louisville, would Pat Kelsey be up there for ACC Coach of the Year?

Absolutely. Pat’s done a very good job with that program. He had plenty of money to do it with. They have good players. They have two or three guys that are down. Good players too. They do really good things on both ends. I really like their team. They’re a legitimate top-25 team. I think Clemson and Louisville are neck-and-neck for the best team behind Duke. Pat’s done a very nice job with that Louisville program.

Steve Forbes is a good friend of yours and he’s been talking about being on the bubble. They took that tough loss to UVa this week.

It’s hard. UVa is playing well. They’re playing good basketball. They’re very physical and violent with their screening and cutting. [Isaac] McKneely is playing very well. We’ve been on the bubble for the previous two years, you have to play at a high level night-in and night-out. I do think that Wake Forest is an NCAA Tournament team. With three games remaining, they’ll have to play better and make their case in Charlotte.

What was your message during that last timeout against Louisville?

We were going to go for two unless you got a great look from three. We didn't have to have a three, we had ample time on the clock. I was nervous, they have two kids that are not going to miss a foul shot. We were looking for the two, but that’s not how that worked out.

Rechsteiner had 18, but how about that defensive job he did on Chucky Hepburn?

Chucky is a heck of a player. He had six turnovers. I thought that he was pressing a little too much, but watching him on film, he is a First Team All-ACC player. He is dynamic with the ball. He can make a jump shot, blow your doors off in transition, he does a great job at utilizing screens and making the right read. He’s a high-level player.

What have you seen out of Syracuse?

They’ve been really good these last couple of games. They’ve had skids and some difficult stretches, but very good in the first half against Pittsburgh. Up eight at the half. Pitt came back and won that one in the second half. I’ve seen four games now. I’ve seen the North Carolina game at Syracuse. Against NC State is the best I’ve seen them play. They were quick to the ball, they defended at a high level. [JJ] Starling and Lampkin played well. Chris Bell hurt us up there a year ago. [Syracuse head coach] Red [Autry] is playing a little more zone now. Comparable to Coach [Jim] Boeheim’s zone. We’re gonna have to play a good ball game.

That Lampkin kid is a double-double machine. Mylyjael has a tall task.

We need him. I don’t know what my impressions were. I asked Ted Boyle, who coached him at Colorado last year. He was complimentary. I thought that there might be a lazy streak in there. He’s got this great big, huge body and these elite feet. He’s got incredible hands too. He’s a good passer. He plays hard. He’s a good player for Syracuse and one that we’re going to have to do a good job on. Certainly a guy who can come in here and put up 20 and 14 and make it really hard on us. He’s good.

Six-foot-11, 265 Eddie Lampkin is.

In third grade. He’s not 265 pounds anymore. That’s a misprint.

Does that make you feel less inclined to go to that smaller lineup?

Not in this one. They’ve got another kid, [Naheem] McLeod who’s 7-4. They just throw it up to him and he dunks it like it’s a nerf hoop. We can’t get away with that. That’s a great matchup on offense though. With Lampkin on the floor, there’s no way. Too many negatives to that lineup in this game.

How was it visiting with Jim Boeheim?

Always enjoy visiting with him. He’s got stories for days. I think the world of him.

Was he reading again?

Not this time. We always talk about what he’s reading and we always pass on great books to read. He’s a big-time reader.

Where are his two sons now?

Buddy is in the G-League and Jimmy is in Europe.

Has this season flown by?

February has. It’s amazing. September 23 is when we started and Saturday is March 1. Seems to get quicker the older I get. I hope we have a lot more basketball to play.