TRAGIC: Former UNC Charlotte hoops star killed in Memphis car crash

Credit: UNC Charlotte

Posted: Jun 6, 2021 / 10:15 AM AST

Updated: Jun 6, 2021 / 10:15 AM AST

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) – Former UNC Charlotte basketball star Galen Young, who led his teams to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances, was tragically killed over the weekend, according to the Memphis Police Department.

Memphis police say they responded to calls around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday regarding a car crashing into a home. Young was found inside the residence and was pronounced dead. He was 45 years old. A citation was issued to the driver with more charges possible and this remains an active investigation.

Young led UNCC to a pair of NCAA Tourney appearances in 1998 and 1999 while winning the 1999 Conference USA Tournament and being named tournament MVP. Young averaged 15 points on 41 percent shooting with 7 rebounds that season.

At 2:42 am, officers responded to a crash at 4589 Horn Lake Rd. where a vehicle crashed into the house.
After the crash investigation, Leslie Young, 45, was located inside the residence and pronounced deceased.
A citation was issued to the driver. The investigation is ongoing.
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) June 5, 2021

He left Charlotte after two seasons transferring to Northwest Mississippi Community College where he was named a 1996 NJCAA All-American and was then drafted late in the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Draft.

UNC Charlotte posted a tribute to Young on its website sending condolences to the family.