Friends of Basketball

 

John Kenneth Young

Year Inducted: 2023

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
St. Joseph-Ogden High School

Biography:

Ken is a 1969 graduate of St. Joseph-Ogden High School where he was the valedictorian, and has been a huge fan and supporter of St. Joseph Ogden High School Boys’ Basketball for over five decades.  

At the time of his induction, Ken had not missed attending a varsity boys’ basketball game for 47  years. The last game he missed was in December of 1975 when St.  Joseph-Ogden played in the semi-final game at the Rossville Holiday  Tournament.  Ken attended 1,339 games, in a row.  SJO has won 19 IHSA Regionals, 3 IHSA Sectionals, 2 IHSA Super-sectionals, and earned 2 state  trophies in the first 60 years of boys’ basketball.  Ken witnessed in  person ALL of those championships.  

Ken was an IHSA basketball official for 32 years.  In addition,  he attended many of the girls’ basketball games each year, and attends  postseason boys’ and girls’ basketball games across the state when SJO is not playing.  

John Kenneth Young has been an incredibly loyal boys’ basketball fan to  SJO, and the game of high school basketball for over five  decades.