CHICAGO _ When Trae Young reached his senior year of high school in Norman, Okla., several recruiting services ranked him as the third-best point guard in the Class of 2017.
Proving doubters wrong became a goal when he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma.
"I'll always have a chip on my shoulder until I hang my shoes up," Young told reporters Friday at the NBA draft combine. "No matter how long I play this game, the chip on my shoulder will always be there. That won't change."
Yet with the draft approaching, Young insists he cares less about when he's picked and more about who picks him.
"My main focus is going to the right team," he said. "It's not about being one, two, three or 30. You see a lot of guys who go in the second round in certain years and make big impacts on teams. It's all about the fit for me."
The Orlando Magic might provide a good fit.
The Magic own the sixth overall pick in the draft and could use it to select a point guard. Orlando traded Elfrid Payton last February because team officials didn't regard Payton as their long-term solution at the position and because Payton was in the final year of his contract. The move left the franchise with only two point guards, D.J. Augustin and Shelvin Mack, neither of whom are considered the Magic's point guard of the future.
Young could fill that role.
He often dazzled during his one-and-done season at Oklahoma. He averaged 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game and became the first player in Division I history to lead the nation in both categories in a single year. He also sank 36.0 percent of his 3-point shot attempts. The biggest knock against him, however, was his defense.
Because of his playing style, production and slight frame, he drew comparisons to the Golden State Warriors' superstar point guard, Stephen Curry.
"I love the comparisons, but I feel like I bring a lot of different things from different players' games to the table," Young said. "I'm just trying to be the best version of Trae Young. That's all that matters to me. I'm just getting started in this game. Hopefully, I can achieve some of those things."
Young is smaller than Curry, whom the Warriors list at 6-feet-3 and 190 pounds.
Young measured at 6-1} in shoes and 178 pounds at the combine.
His small stature might explain why his productivity decreased as his freshman season progressed. But on Friday, he emphasized that he has put on 10 pounds of muscle over the last five weeks and expects to make additional strides before he begins his rookie NBA season.
The Magic hope to bring Young, University of Alabama point guard Collin Sexton and other potential picks at No. 6 to Orlando in upcoming weeks for workouts and interviews.
Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman declined to identify the players he and team officials interviewed in Chicago.
"The combine is always productive," Weltman said. "It is what you make of it. It's your first chance to interview players, interact with them and get a feel for them while you're watching them in the gym in the day. And, obviously, a lot of meetings (take place). So it's kind of the first chapter that begins the unfolding of the draft."
Weltman has said the Magic will select the best available player regardless of position.
To hear Young tell it, though, that search should begin and end with him.
"I think I'm the best overall player in this draft," Young said. "My main focus isn't necessarily to be the best player in this draft. My goal is to be the best player in the NBA. That's what I'm focusing on each and every day."
