TJ Taylor

[Canadian Dimes]

With all the focus on recruiting and whom we should recruit, it seems much is lost on the topic of TJ Taylor.

His senior year in HS he was recruited by all the top schools and had an ESPN ranking of 94 and 78th in the country.  ESPN spoke pretty darn highly of both his 1G and 2G skills along with his athleticism, size, and strength.  The only recruit I recall higher than a 94 that Buzz has signed has been Vander at 95. 

Seems Taylor is not getting a whole lot of respect on these boards for the caliber of talent that he will bring to MU.  It maybe the fact that he has been out of the game for a year and will spend next year at a JUCO, but he stnads to potentially be a big big timeplayer for MU in the years to come.  Much more highly rated than, MAyo, Anderson, Ferguson, Wilsonor any of the other incoming players that seem to get so much attention.

[Nukem2]

With all the focus on recruiting and whom we should recruit, it seems much is lost on the topic of TJ Taylor.

His senior year in HS he was recruited by all the top schools and had an ESPN ranking of 94 and 78th in the country.  ESPN spoke pretty darn highly of both his 1G and 2G skills along with his athleticism, size, and strength.  The only recruit I recall higher than a 94 that Buzz has signed has been Vander at 95. 

Seems Taylor is not getting a whole lot of respect on these boards for the caliber of talent that he will bring to MU.  It maybe the fact that he has been out of the game for a year and will spend next year at a JUCO, but he stnads to potentially be a big big timeplayer for MU in the years to come.  Much more highly rated than, MAyo, Anderson, Ferguson, Wilsonor any of the other incoming players that seem to get so much attention.

ESPN is only one rating service.  The composite RSCI is far better gauge.  Current MU guys in the RSCI Top 100 are Cadougan, Jamil Wilson, Blue, Jones and Anderson ( as well as ex-MUers Erci willaims and JMay ).  TJ did not make the RSCI.  Not to say he won't be very good.

[wadesworld]

On this subject, I know this was talked about when he originally committed to Marquette, but will he have 2 or 3 years of eligibility at Marquette?  And he will be eligible to play in the 2012-2013 season right away, correct?

[NersEllenson]

On this subject, I know this was talked about when he originally committed to Marquette, but will he have 2 or 3 years of eligibility at Marquette?  And he will be eligible to play in the 2012-2013 season right away, correct?

i believe 3 years of elig...and he can play in 2012-2013.

[wadesworld]

i believe 3 years of elig...and he can play in 2012-2013.

Thanks.  That's what I thought but wasn't positive.

[brewcity77]

i believe 3 years of elig...and he can play in 2012-2013.

Correct on the 3 years, and he'll be playing in 2011-12 at Paris Junior College in Texas, so if you want a JUCO to follow for next year, that's the one.

[NersEllenson]

Correct on the 3 years, and he'll be playing in 2011-12 at Paris Junior College in Texas, so if you want a JUCO to follow for next year, that's the one.

I may have to go watch him in person - that's only about 100 miles from where I live...he played only about 50 miles up the freeway from me in high school..

From all accounts the kid has a great basketball body/good character...etc

[bilsu]

He is basically doing the same thing Kinsella did. He was hurt his freshmen year and therefore used the redshirt year. He had four years of eligiblity remaining , if he stayed at Oklahoma. Since he is transferring out, he would have to sit out a year if he went directly to MU. By going to junior college he gets to play and and still have three years left at MU. The question I have is what is more valuable to the player, playing a year at junior college or practicing a year with MU? Given that MU has an open scholarship and could use more practice players, I wonder if Buzz would consider bringing in Taylor right away? However, I can underatand a player not wanting to sit out two straight years. It also might pissed off junior college coaches, if they think Buzz is stealing players from under their noses.

[brewcity77]

He is basically doing the same thing Kinsella did. He was hurt his freshmen year and therefore used the redshirt year. He had four years of eligiblity remaining , if he stayed at Oklahoma. Since he is transferring out, he would have to sit out a year if he went directly to MU. By going to junior college he gets to play and and still have three years left at MU. The question I have is what is more valuable to the player, playing a year at junior college or practicing a year with MU? Given that MU has an open scholarship and could use more practice players, I wonder if Buzz would consider bringing in Taylor right away? However, I can underatand a player not wanting to sit out two straight years. It also might pissed off junior college coaches, if they think Buzz is stealing players from under their noses.

I think had we known E-Will would transfer and we'd have two scholarships sitting unfilled right now, Buzz might have encouraged Taylor to come here directly. But when he enrolled at Paris back in January, there was no way for us to know that. Hopefully they have a good strength training program there and the year of being able to play does him well. It clearly worked for guys like Butler and DJO, neither of whom came in as highly rated as Taylor does

[Blackhat]

Love the TJ Taylor signing......probably the most excited about this kid of all the incoming guys. 

 We needed another 3 shooter once DJO is gone.   

[Skatastrophy]

I think had we known E-Will would transfer and we'd have two scholarships sitting unfilled right now, Buzz might have encouraged Taylor to come here directly. But when he enrolled at Paris back in January, there was no way for us to know that. Hopefully they have a good strength training program there and the year of being able to play does him well. It clearly worked for guys like Butler and DJO, neither of whom came in as highly rated as Taylor does

Buzz knew E-Will was xfering part way through 2nd semester.

[We R Final Four]

With all the focus on recruiting and whom we should recruit, it seems much is lost on the topic of TJ Taylor.

His senior year in HS he was recruited by all the top schools and had an ESPN ranking of 94 and 78th in the country.  ESPN spoke pretty darn highly of both his 1G and 2G skills along with his athleticism, size, and strength.  The only recruit I recall higher than a 94 that Buzz has signed has been Vander at 95.  Seems Taylor is not getting a whole lot of respect on these boards for the caliber of talent that he will bring to MU.  It maybe the fact that he has been out of the game for a year and will spend next year at a JUCO, but he stnads to potentially be a big big timeplayer for MU in the years to come.  Much more highly rated than, MAyo, Anderson, Ferguson, Wilsonor any of the other incoming players that seem to get so much attention.

Isn't a grade/score of 94 better than a grade/score of 95??  By 'higher' do you mean a lower #?

[MUMac]

Isn't a grade/score of 94 better than a grade/score of 95??  By 'higher' do you mean a lower #?

No, with ESPN it is a grading system, not a ranking. 

[brewcity77]

Buzz knew E-Will was xfering part way through 2nd semester.

By that time, Taylor had already left OU and went to Paris. The decision to attend Paris JC was made by mid-December, well before anyone knew Williams was transferring.

[77ncaachamps]

Playingone year at JUCO is worth more IMO than a year at MU.

That said, I wonder how Wade would've done at a JUCO, or if he would have had less of an impact if he attended a JUCO instead?

[mileskishnish72]

Wade was so athletic and talented he was going to have a big impact if he went anywhere except in the seminary.

[GGGG]

Playingone year at JUCO is worth more IMO than a year at MU.

I think it would have been better to get into MU's strength and conditioning program, playing everyday in practice against better competition, and learning what Buzz is about, than playing at a JUCO.

[Blackhat]

I think it would have been better to get into MU's strength and conditioning program, playing everyday in practice against better competition, and learning what Buzz is about, than playing at a JUCO.

I agree with this.

 But TJ already made a commitment to the coaches and players at JUCO, probably best to keep to it.

 He's still working on his game, will be interesting to see how much Jamil has developed as a gauge. 

[kmwtrucks]

I think in most cases I would rather they spend a year at MU, But in TJ's case after already redshirting 1  year you need to see real game action not just scrimmage and practice.  I'm fine with him playing at the Juco.  He will be one of the Top 5 FR Juco's in the country so he is going to have the ball in his hands allot and be the focus of there offense, Plus with him commiting early (for a Juco) he is going to get all his classes in order, and get a good S and C program setup by MU and will probably be at MU right away in the summer which is generally not the case for JUCO's. 

[bilsu]

Buzz knew E-Will was xfering part way through 2nd semester.

I find that interesting. Was Buzz letting him start the first & second halves an attempt to get him to change his mind?

[Litehouse]

I find that interesting. Was Buzz letting him start the first & second halves an attempt to get him to change his mind?

I may be completely wrong, but based on some other posts lately, you may need to read between the lines a little more on this one.

[4everwarriors]

I find that interesting. Was Buzz letting him start the first & second halves an attempt to get him to change his mind?

Yeah, he did the same for Smith and Singleton.

[Litehouse]

Depending on what the plan is for TJ, this could provide him with the opportunity to play PG on a regular basis and focus on that position for a year.

[bilsu]

Yeah, he did the same for Smith and Singleton.

Singelton?

[MUMac]

Singelton?

Did you really need teal?