Patric Young – Turning Tragedy into Victory

01/16/26

Patric Young is a basketball analyst, author, speaker, and philanthropist. Patric played for the University of Florida Gators from 2010-2014, playing for Hall of Fame Coach Billy Donovan, which included a Final Four appearance. Patric then played professionally in the NBA and then overseas from 2014-2020. In 2021, he transitioned into a college basketball analyst for the SEC Network, a position he holds currently.

In the summer of 2022, Patric was involved in a single automobile accident which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Once a towering force on the court, Patric now had to face new challenges that initially tested his faith, resolve, and the very core of his identity.

In 2023, Patric summarized his inspiring story in his book Sit to Rise, Turning Your Darkest Pain Into Your Brightest Victory. His story now serves as a beacon of hope, proving that in moments of vulnerability, we can discover newfound strength and unleash new levels potential within ourselves.

Four months following his accident and while undergoing intensive therapy and treatment, Patric launched The Patric Young Foundation. With a mission to help those facing life-altering injuries, the foundation works to provide financial, emotional, and physical support to those who need it most.

Determined to make a difference, Patric is working to be the best he can be for himself, his family and his new adaptive community.

Takeaways:

1. The DRIFT. This is a truly great LIFE lesson and one that is consistent with a lot of what we discuss on this show. Patric reminds us that we have to live intentionally, anchoring ourselves to the right identities. Anchoring? Sound familiar? As Patric said, if we don’t, then – just like the ocean’s tide takes kids playing in the waves – life will take us where it wants us to go, not where we want to go. Soon we end up in unexpected and most of the times, undesired places. We need to establish a strong identity, based on the right standards, principles, and priorities, and then go live a life with intention to maintain all of it every day. It’s not easy. Just worth it.

2. Your Reputation. Feeding off the point about The Drift, when we develop a positive identity, and live it consistently, it transforms into a positive reputation. That leads to others being drawn in – and increases our ability to make positive IMPACT, which is something that all humans are wired to seek.

3. Being Coachable. We all need to be coachable. One simple reason is that great leaders and great teams simply don’t have time for those who aren’t. Patric mentioned how he got his wake-up call when Hall of Fame Coach Billy Donovan had to tell him he was going to have to leave if he didn’t become more coachable. We need to always strive to find that balance of contributing our unique talents, while also maintaining the humility that acknowledges that we can always get better and grow – especially when it comes to what the TEAM needs.

4. Success. Speaking of Billy Donovan, his description of success, as Patric relayed in our conversation, is simple, yet powerful. As Coach Donovan said, you “just have to live it.” What a great reminder that we need to be thinking about success and our pursuit of it – all the time - in all that we do.

5. Life is where you are. As we discussed, due to an infection, Patric was stuck in the hospital for an extended period of time following his accident. How did he handle it? By deciding that he was going to be as nice as he could possibly be to every single person with whom he came into contact. We have a chance to IMPACT everywhere, all the time. I like how Patric refers to the option of bitterness by saying “I just don’t see the point in it.” As we discussed, there were a couple of nurses who were positively impacted by Patric – opportunities that would’ve been lost if Patric had chosen bitterness. Because he chose positive instead, who knows who else may be impacted – through the stories those nurses tell their friends and families and beyond.

6. Living FULL and DYING Empty. What a great way to think about life. This includes the notion Patric mentions of using trials and adversity as tools to develop us. It isn’t always easy – Patric admitted there are good and bad days on his journey, of course. But, overall, with each challenge, he’s getting better. And that allows him to keep living fully…I have no doubt that when it’s all said and done, Patric’s tank will be empty – all of it having been spent positively impacting a countless number of people.

Links:

Website: patricyoung.com

Instagram: @patricyoung4

Foundation: py4foundation.org