By SHEENA JOHNSON, Staff Writer

N.C. Central guard David Young was in Atlanta training Thursday morning, hoping he would get a chance at the NBA. Thursday night, he did, when the Seattle SuperSonics picked him in the second round of the NBA Draft.

Young watched the draft alone from an Atlanta hotel room as NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik announced his name.

"It's a dream come true," Young said. "I went to sleep thinking about it, and I woke up thinking about it.

"I not only wanted to make it to the NBA, but I want to be an impact player in the league."

Young, a native of New Castle, Pa., is the first Eagles player drafted by the NBA in 21 years and the sixth player ever drafted from NCCU. Central's David Binion was selected in the 10th round by Seattle in 1983.

Young, 6 feet 5 and 205 pounds, was the 41st overall pick and the only player from a historically black college selected.

Young had workouts with nine teams, including Seattle.

"Seattle felt like home," Young said. "I had a great workout there, and it felt like family. They gave me a warm greeting and they appreciated my game."

Young played three seasons at Xavier before transferring to NCCU because he was not playing as much as he wanted. He averaged 8.0 points in 2002 and 5.1 points in 2003 for Xavier.

In his one season with the Eagles, Young led N.C. Central in scoring at 20.5 points per game, which ranked third in the CIAA. His 594 points was second in school history, and he was the first Eagles player in 21 years to make more than 200 field goals in one season.

Young made All-CIAA and the All-CIAA Tournament team and was also named the MVP of the Black College All-Star Game.

Former NCCU head coach Phil Spence, who coached Young this past season, said, "I was pleasantly surprised to see his name across the screen.

"I wasn't sure because not many Division II or black college players get drafted, but I knew it was a strong possibility, and I'm glad to see things worked out for him."

Young has a chance to join former Shaw star Ronald Murray in Seattle.

"It's very exciting that he will join the ranks with fellow CIAA alumni that play in the NBA," CIAA director of fall and spring championships Monique Morgan said.

"[Young being drafted] confirms that CIAA and Division II players can make it to the next level."

Staff writer Sheena Johnson can be reached at 829-4560 or sheenaj@newsobserver.com