Junior Allen You is a legend in “League of Legends"

Elizabeth Leffew, Staff Writer

Junior Allen You is a legend in “League of Legends,” and he is playing to improve every time.

“There was a lot of tension going into our game against Lambert. We played two games against them, and those were the toughest games I have ever played, hands down,” You said. “I was stressed because they had a 99% chance of winning, but, somehow, through a miracle, we were able to come back. That led to the next game in which we demolished them.”

Since middle school, he has dominated “League of Legends” as a player, building and refining his leadership skills. Today, he is the Northview Varsity Esports captain, but that title did not even exist when he began his journey. During his freshman year, You heard of an esports team that had been created. He joined, curious about the group and excited to translate his talents into victories.

“Esports started in my freshman year, and before, the top competitors were Lambert High School and East Coweta High School. They often saw each other in finals, but Northview was the runner-up both semesters [last year],” You said.

There has been a long-standing rivalry between the Lambert and Northview “League of Legends” teams. In 2020, Lambert beat Northview 2-0 in the fall esports state championship,  with You’s squad finishing as state runner-up. At that time, Lambert’s head coach proclaimed that their team had reached the level of dynasty, meaning that they have reached the level of total domination. Thanks to You, that dynasty would soon crumble. In his first year as captain last semester, You led Northview to victory against Lambert, beating the school in the fall state championship, 2-0. He expects to face the Lambert team again in this year’s spring state championship and plans to take home the win once more.

“Allen has done an absolutely fantastic job as the leader of our varsity team,” coach Raymond Brown said. “Allen does an amazing job of staying level-headed throughout games. He keeps [his teammates] pointed in the right direction.” 

Brown works with You and other players to compete against schools in the online gaming world. They are responsible for organizing schedules and practices and keeping a positive attitude among the group. You also plays as Jungler—this position typically is the shot-caller for the team during the opening stages of the game. The “League of Legends” Jungler coordinates all of the game mechanics, scopes enemy power, and plans how teammates interact with one another in the early game.

“Allen is good to talk to and when I have a problem, he listens instead of trying to laugh it off,” teammate and friend Jaemin Cheong said. “There is no problem of trust. You can depend on [You] if you need help or you just need some support.”

Cheong describes You as both a good friend and captain. He appreciates that You supports his teammates, caring for them and their feelings. While games can become competitive, You stays grounded, keeping his friends focused while doing what he loves.

“[You] is pretty well-organized, and he understands some things about the game that we do not,” teammate Stanley Wang said. “It really helps to have him there because he also reins us in. It can get heated at times.”

Wang explains that You is a hardworking leader who knows when it is time to have fun and when it is time to work. Communication is key when working with a team, especially as a captain. As the team captain, You displays these qualities; he consistently works with his teammates to better their skills while also improving his own.

“We hope to win this year’s spring [championship] again,” You said. “We are expecting to see Lambert again in the finals, but there are some other good teams as well—lots of good competition. So, we might see them, but we are definitely going to aim for the state championship again this year.”

While You does not plan to build his “League of Legends” skills into a career, it cannot be denied that he is a dedicated leader with a bright future ahead of him.

“I will definitely not become a professional player because it is not part of my dreams in life, but ‘League of Legends’ made my childhood and teenage years amazing,” You said. “It allowed me to lead a team and translate my skills into real experiences—experiences that will help me get into college and train my leadership.”

*Titans Rising documents how You lead his team to victory. If you want to learn more, click this link.