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Back from injury, Audia Young ready to carry family legacy

by Wes Todd

Audia Young remembers the date well. And exactly how it happened.

September 2, 2022. 

“We were running offense dry,” she said. “I was coming off a screen, and I stepped and it just kind of popped.”

She had torn her Achilles. It took a moment for it to sink in.

“I’ve twisted my ankle plenty of times playing basketball,” Young said. “It was a different feeling. I was kind of in shock. When I tried to get up and walk, I was surprised that I couldn’t even put pressure on it, and then it didn’t really hit me until I sat down.”

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, she knew the rehab process would be arduous.

“I was just devastated,” she said. “I’ve had two ACLs previously, and I was still rehabbing for my knees. I was just shocked. I didn’t know what to do.”

For a good portion of the rest of the fall, she had a scooter to get around campus. Then it was rehab time – lots of jump rope, heel raises, and rebuilding strength.

“Trying to really learn how to walk and figure out your steps and not overcompensate,” Young said of her rehab. “Just a lot of tedious, unstructured rehab, more than any other injury.”

Fast-forward a full year later.

After a gradual increase in activity during the summer and heading into preseason workouts, Young was cleared to return to full practice in early September. 

“It was exciting,” she said of the news that she was back to 100 percent participation in practice. “But even though you got cleared, it’s still another step. 

“Yeah, you’re physically cleared. But you’re not fast enough. You’re not strong enough yet. You’re not mentally there yet. And I was definitely happy to make that big jump, but it’s still a long way to go.”

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Monday night, Oct. 30 – nearly 14 months to the day after her injury – the redshirt freshman finally got a chance to put on that Auburn jersey and step onto the court with her teammates in Auburn’s exhibition win over West Georgia.

She played about eight minutes in that game, then saw 10 minutes of court time three nights later in another exhibition win over Columbus State.

And it was a moment that was a long time coming.

Young, the daughter of former Auburn great Carolyn Jones-Young – a two-time SEC Player of the Year, All-American and Olympian - and former Auburn men’s assistant coach Charlton “C.Y.” Young, has had Auburn in her blood since day one. 

A standout at Florida State University High School – better known as Florida High – she averaged 16.2 points as a senior and helped her team to the state semifinals. 

And for “Little CJ” – as she became known to her mom’s college teammates – there was no doubt that her destination was always going to be Auburn.

“It was my first letter, and my mom always wanted us to go here,” she said. “I knew that if an offer from Auburn came along, I was going to go for it.”

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There was also the matter of what number she would wear.

Her mom’s number 21 is one of four (soon to be five) retired by Auburn women’s basketball. 

But exceptions can always be made in special circumstances.

“It’s my family number,” Young said. “My mom wore 21. My dad wore 12. I’ve always worn 21, all through high school. I never had a different number. So it was kind of a no-brainer. She was like, ‘Go ahead and wear it, I want you to carry on that family legacy.’”

Carolyn Jones-Young was spotted in courtside seats at that first exhibition game Oct. 30. And like any proud parent, the Auburn legend wasn’t missing a moment of the debut, filming every moment and connecting with Audia’s father via FaceTime.

“She tried to record everything,” Young said. “My dad was like, let me see. She was excited.”

As her redshirt freshman season begins, Young knows there’s still a long road back to being 100 percent. But she’s excited about the prospects of the 2023-24 Tigers, as well as the opportunity to be part of something special.

“Honestly, I’m just ready to get my groove back,” she said. “When you tear your Achilles, your timing’s a little bit off, you’re one step behind. It’s just getting back in the flow of the game. You have to get in a rhythm to be able to excel.

“I tend to overthink a lot, especially getting on the court like the other day, but it’s a process. It’s the mental aspect. I’m ready to be completely free in the mind.”

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