Virginia’s Youso Student of The Game

Blue Devils Jr. Plays with both Intensity and Intelligence

Ethan Youso was born to be a basketball player.

Youso comments, “Well I’ve been playing basketball as long as I can remember.”

Making his 1st varsity appearance as an 8th grader he developed a strong passion early on.

Head Coach Rich Odell says, “It may sound kind of corny, but you can see it in his eyes. He’s never been interested in being good. He wants to be great he wants to be as good as he can possibly be.”

Youso adds, “I just try to work my hardest and hope the other guys follow me.”

He drives that passion with tireless commitment both on the court and in the classroom.

Youso says, “It’s the way I was raised I guess, my Dad said I couldn’t play basketball if I didn’t have good grades, or even average grades.”

“I could call a timeout and run a set from two years ago and he would remember it. He’s an amazing player that way because so intelligent.”

He’s no stranger to athletic success, his sister was 3 sport athlete in college and his grandfather was even an original member of the 1961 Minnesota Vikings.

Youso comments, “Yeah, a lot of athletes in my family.”

However, Ethan’s path is on the basketball court.

Ethan explains, “This is my sport. It’s the most fun thing I have to do. I work so hard at it and I just want to make the most out of it when i can.”

Coach Odell adds, “He just has that passion about good isn’t enough. I can do better.”

His Dad coached him in middle school helping sharpen his competitive edge.

Ethan says, “I look up to my dad so I always want to do what he says instead of mess around. I don’t like to lose. Always got to win.”

Coach Odell adds”I mean it’s no secret. You know he’s our best player.”

Do you have any pregame rituals?

Ethan answers, “No, I like to sometimes change it up because I don’t want to think that if I don’t do the tradition then something bad is going to happen. It’s because of hard work that I’m going to do well not because I follow a tradition.”

Even though he’s only a junior, college basketball is already on the horizon.

Ethan explains, “I’m kind of weighing all of my options I have not made a decision at all.”

He still has big plans for the rest of his high school career.

Ethan says, “We have big goals for this year and next year. We want to win the conference and the section both years and we think that we can do that.”

Coach Odell adds, “There’s something good going on if you have to kick them out of the gym after practice and we have to do that most nights.”