Charlotte 49ers’ Jahmir Young wins C-USA freshman-of-year award

The only potential surprise coming out of Conference USA’s freshman-of-the-year voting would have been if Charlotte’s Jahmir Young didn’t win the award.

But win it Young did. Young, who took freshman-of-the week honors an astonishing eight times over the season, received the honor by the league’s coaches in an announcement made Tuesday.

“All the preparation over the summer, all the hard work on my craft, I think, has paid off,” Young told the Observer on Tuesday. “I trusted the process at Charlotte and to have the teammates I have, to play like a unit, has been the big thing. I’m nothing without my teammates or coaching staff.”

Young, a 6-1 guard from Hyattsville, Md., averages 12.5 points and a team-high 5.2 rebounds for the fourth-seed 49ers, who open C-USA tournament play Thursday in Frisco, Texas against the winner of Wednesday’s first-round game between Florida International and Rice.

“Honestly, Jahmir has been a great addition to our roster,” 49ers coach Ron Sanchez said. “I know he surprised a lot of people, but we knew he’d be good. He’s had such an impact on this team.”

That kind of confidence helped Young during a freshman season that has surpassed expectations.

“It’s amazing; it’s very impactful,” Young said. “Knowing they have that kind of trust in you helps you get the job every day. Just the confidence they have in you helps you play better.”