In my opinion Taylor is the most important recruit to date in the Groce regime --- As I see it this program has to find a way to crack through to the next level when it comes to the recruits that we compete for -- How to do that is as risky as it is difficult.

Bassett was without doubt the most dynamic talent to come to Athens since Trent in that Bassett can explode for his points no matter what team the Bobcats played.   Of course he came with the baggage and risk associated with that baggage but your other alternative is to find a guy that slips through the cracks which is a lot riskier talent wise which is what high level recruiting sooner or later comes down to.

Bassett served his purpose wonderfully as we would not have any of the attention nationally that we have now without those magical 4 days in March that was parlayed into the Georgetown win.  Cooper is an assist man who can score but he needs at least one dynamic talent around him in order to truly appreciate how good he and the Bobcats can be.  I honestly don't feel Taylor is a Bobcat recruit without that post season run.

Based on Taylor's high school and AAU success coming into his senior season, he is the best positioned recruit to raise the profile of Groce's recruiting pool.  It's definitely a a huge stretch to have Taylor reach the level of a McDonald's All American but I have no doubt in my mind that Taylor is at least the equal of Trey Burke who played with Jared Sullinger et al at Columbus Northland and is currently ranked higher nationally than Taylor as a PG (simply because he's 6'1 as opposed to 5'9 in my opinion) With a loaded Northland lineup, Taylor's high school team beat them by 20 points if my memory serves in last year state playoffs. These two schools are about 10 minutes from each other in the Columbus area so it will be a great barometer again this year to guage one vs. the other.


IF (big IF) Taylor can explode and get some national attention as a senior then the fact that he is already  coming to Athens can move OU even further into the national consciousness.  It's the one thing that Coach Hunter just couldn't figure out how to do when we were blessed to have Trent on campus for 3 years...find that player who is even better or at least arguably so.

If Stevie Taylor comes even close to where DJ Cooper is now, I'll be more then happy.

The key isn't landing the one huge recruit IMO. Its keeping a team together without losing multiple players every year.

To see Burke and Taylor together click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFeVcPkykLc

Never forget that we need a 6'3" or 6'4" guard who causes mismatch problems and, most importantly, thrives on playing the pressure defense (mostly 3/4 court).

Two small guards at once is not ideal against top competition.

Kansas doesn't.

That's what I'm trying to convey, If you land that dynamic backcourt player then you attract that big man that you covet.  This is chess, not checkers



If we wait until after the season is over to sign our last recruit and IF (big IF) Taylor has that explosive season then we may have that stud post player that takes us to that next level status ready to take up residence in Athens.

Thank you for the fine example of dyspeptic.

Hopefully they can be the MAC's version of Kalin Lucas and Korie Lucious.

Yah, that size was a big issue. Michigan State made it ONLY to the final four with two small guards.

He's 4 inches taller than Earl Boykins...

Dispatch's h.s. preview Thursday stated that Taylor was second-team all-district. Who was first team? Trey Burke? Someone else? Must of been a heck of a point guard.

Liked your comments, Monroe! Heading up Rt. 33 to watch OU/Marshall!  GO BOBCATS!

Taylor scored 27 in a romp in Gahanna Lincoln's 1st game of the season. He made 3 from 3 point range. No word on any assists but no one else on the team scored as much as 15 (12 players scored though)