Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette David Young poses with school children during a photo session after being named to the Post-Gazette Fab Five during his senior year at New Castle High School. Click photo for larger image.

Former New Castle High School basketball star David Young was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the NBA draft last night.

Young, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound shooting guard who played this past season at North Carolina Central, was the 12th pick in the second round and the 41st overall. He is only the third player from a WPIAL school to be drafted since the NBA went to its two-round format in 1989.

While Young was celebrating, Ales Chan of Seton Hill University wasn't after he was passed over in both rounds.

"I'm just elated," said Young, who watched the draft on television from Atlanta. "The NBA draft is only two rounds, so right now I'm the 41st best player in the world coming into the NBA. I can't say anything except that I'm just elated."

Young's selection might be a surprise to some because he didn't seem to be on the draft radar a few months ago. He was not invited to predraft camps in Portsmouth, Va., or Chicago. But his stock soared in recent weeks because did so well in workouts for 11 teams.

He worked out June 4 with Seattle, and the Sonics were one of the teams especially interested after Young did well in a workout against University of Nevada guard Kirk Snyder, who was selected by Utah with the 16th pick in the first round.

"The whole thing sort of mushroomed from the first Seattle workout," Young said. "The buzz started to get around. But it wasn't only [Snyder]. I did well against a lot of guys.

"To be honest with you, I always thought this could happen. I always knew I had the talent. The situation at Xavier kind of hindered me and made me take a step back. I knew once I got my first workout [with an NBA team], I had a chance. Now my dream has come true. I just have to keep working hard and improve my game. I think my chances of making the team are very good."

The night began in a festive atmosphere for Chan, a native of the Czech Republic who was projected as a second-rounder.

But Chan, who watched the draft at the home of Seton Hill coach Tony Morocco, saw a bright side to things, too.

"By [today] I'll at least know where I am headed," he said. "My agent and I will talk to some teams, we'll find the best fit and I'll be headed to a summer league to get started.

"It is a little bit of a disappointment for me because I had some high expectations. By the same token, I know where I was coming from as far as how much I had to overcome coming from such a small school. I heard enough good things from teams that worked me out that I know I'll have no problem signing with a team and I look forward to playing in the NBA some day."