Lindy Waters discusses friendship with Trae Young, bus ride from Waco to Stillwater

Trae Young has taken over the world of college basketball, but former teammate Lindy Waters isn’t surprised.

Waters played with Young at Norman North High School, and they first played together for the Oklahoma Runners when Young was in second grade. Waters had high praise for the freshman phenom, but added he looks forward to facing him.

“I know that he doesn’t like it when I guard him,” Waters said. “That goes back since we were young. That’s just us being competitors.”

Waters has missed only one game this season: this year’s first Bedlam matchup, which was a 20-point loss Jan. 3.

Waters said he stayed in Stillwater and watched that game with some friends, but wishes he could have been there to energize his team from the bench. Waters will have an opportunity to make an impact Saturday when the Sooners invade Gallagher-Iba Arena, but friendship means little to nothing when he and Young step onto the court.

“We’ve always been butting heads,” Waters said. “Every time we step on the court, it doesn’t matter if we’ve been friends or not. We’re gonna go at it.”

After OSU’s loss to Baylor on Monday, Mark Cooper of The Tulsa World reported the Cowboys had to take a bus home after inclement weather stopped them from flying out of Waco or Dallas-Fort Worth.

Waters shared some of the happenings during the bus ride, including a window that started to break near the back of the bus. The bus turned too sharply as it was exiting a parking lot and caused a tree branch to damage the window. The tint fell off, and the window started to cave in.

Waters said Brandon Averette, who was sitting by the window, quickly jumped out of his seat. Tavarius Shine stayed up with Waters on the bus, which didn’t arrive in Stillwater until 6 a.m.

Although the circumstances were unforeseen, coach Mike Boynton, who recalled a story of Scott Sutton’s 15-hour bus ride, drew some positives from the situation.

“It’s good for us,” Boynton said. “I think sometimes we get at this level, we’re spoiled by the accommodations and the access, luxuries and all that stuff. Sometimes it’s good to get back to the reality of what 75 percent of college athletes really live. It’s a relatively short bus ride.”