Young going pro

Leading scorer Nick Young will forego his senior season at USC and declare for the NBA draft, according to sources.

The small forward, who prepped at Cleveland High of Reseda, plans to make his official announcement on campus early next week.

Young has yet to hire an agent but will do so soon, according to one source who is close to the player.

The juniors stock rose during the NCAA Tournament last month, when he led the team in scoring in victories over Arkansas and Texas before the surprising Trojans fell to top-seeded North Carolina.

In the weeks following the season, NBA personnel have indicated to Young that he would go between picks 10 and 25 in the first round depending on workouts, according to sources.

Young said earlier in the year that he would most likely leave for the NBA if told he would be a first rounder.

Hes giving up the possibility to play alongside top recruit O.J. Mayo on a team that has been projected to start next season in the top-10 by multiple publications.

“You never know if his stock will be this high again, said one source involved in the decision. “Anything can happen next year.

Young overcame a slow start last season to lead the Trojans with a career-high 17.5 points per game. He hit the game-tying shot at the end of regulation of an overtime victory over Stanford in the Pac-10 Tournament and the game-winner against previously undefeated Oregon in January.

The 6-foot-6 athletic forward scored in double figures each of the final 25 games, showing a widening display of offensive moves that could create space for a shot any time at the college level.

Young led USC in scoring as a sophomore as well with 17.3 points. He ranks sixth on the schools all-time list in points scored with 1,486, making the all-conference first team each of his final two seasons.

Young overcame numerous obstacles to be on the verge of reaching his dream. His oldest brother Charles Jr. was murdered when he was five years old.

He flunked out of Hamilton High as a freshman. After transferring to Dorsey, he found himself sharing classrooms with members of the Blood gang that killed his brother. He stopped going to class and flunked out again.

Derrick Cooper, an AAU traveling team coach, helped Young get to Cleveland, where he thrived under the coaching of Andre Chevalier and the close watch of principal Al Weiner.

Because he flunked out at his first two high schools, Young needed a fifth year to earn his degree. With Clevelands support, he was granted an extra year on his third appeal.

It wasnt until graduation day that Young found out he had received a qualifying score on the SAT, clearing the way for him to attend USC.

Added note: Young’s camp says he will announce Tuesday at 3 p.m., but a USC representative couldn’t confirm that time.