Steve Taylor Commits

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Is this the thread where we talk about how awesome he is going to be, and somebody even thinks he'll go to the NBA in 2 years?

Then, after his frosh. year, we can start a new thread where everybody says he is a bust?

I kid, I kid.

Looks like a good player, and fits the "switchables" bit perfectly, which really might prove to be a great recruiting technique in the long run as there are a lot of athletic guys between 6-5 and 6-8 who get pigeon-holed into a spot and then are forced to develop the skills to match it. Buzz seems to embrace multiple skills for the 2/3/4 positions.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Just to add to this, here's an article by the Bullseye Brothers.  I'm not going to sniff my nose at landing the #1 player available for 2012.

http://ilprepbullseye.com/Taylor_Marquette.html

"Even though the class of 2012 in Illinois is weak overall, that should not be meant to take away from Taylor's game, as he is hands down the #1 prospect from Illinois in that class."

The rating services agree (national and Chicago) as well on both counts---Taylor is #1 in 2012 and that 2013 is loaded.  btw, I went back and looked up MU getting the #1 out of Illinois and the last one was Sir Walter--although not directly (DePaul and then transfer to MU).  Russell Cross (Manley/Purdue) beat out Doc in 1980...so indeed it may be Bo as the last #1.  Down year or not, pretty interesting fact, seemingly great fit, and better yet, great to be back in the Chicago column.   

Bo's Bio:
http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/maurice_bo_ellis

[Benny B]

Can someone offer explanations as to why the #1 recruit from Illinois is only the #63 overall according to Scout?

Even the basketball powerhouses of Sheboygan and New Hampshire were represented in the top 50.  What's up with the state of HS basketball in the State of Illinois?

[kmwtrucks]

I think he is more like 72 on scout.  Its a down year in ILL 2012.  2013 and 2014 are back where they normally are.   Both years they have top 10 player's in the country and probably 5-8 player's in the Top 100. 

[77ncaachamps]

MCGary will have to see the roster for those schools before he makes a decision, he will probably want some PT time.
Now at MU, he would probably start ahead of Taylor, or at least split time with him.  I say MU still has a small window
of opportunity.  Maybe he wants to go to a smaller school, you never know what is in the head of a 17 year old.  But like
I said on another post, shoot for the moon.  One day, Buzz might strike.

McGary is more of a PF but I see him playing the C in college.

BTW, MU was mentioned as schools in the running for McGary in a recent article.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Ian Powers from the NY Daily News updates on Taylor at the Peach Jam:

Steve Taylor Chicago, IL/ Simeon 6'8" 200 SF 2012- Taylor is a long and lean athlete with a nice stroke. When he sets his feet he can knock down shots at a high rate from long distance. He's an above average athlete and flashes the ability to get to the basket. He settles too much for jumpers at times and doesn't mix it up inside as much as he could. He's an intriguing prospect that can possibly play in the league one day with polish and added toughness to his game.

http://www.nbadraft.net/2011-nike-peach-jam-day-2

[Golden Avalanche]

That's a great pick-up. Taylor fits all the criteria for star potential. With prospects like this in program, Buzz will easily have MU top 5 for the near future.

More importantly, Benford's efforts in Chicago pay off. That is a very important piece of our pipeline we've laid over the decades and we hit a soft patch there for a little bit. Landing a kid like Taylor shows could hopefully pique the interest of one of those 2013 studs in Chicago.

[brewcity77]

McGary is more of a PF but I see him playing the C in college.

BTW, MU was mentioned as schools in the running for McGary in a recent article.

That's why I'd love to get McGary now. He'd come in as a freshman with Otule having a year and Gardner having 2 years of eligibility. He'd be able to primarily play his natural position. If he filled out and became more of a natural center, he could move over when DG graduates, and it would give Buzz two recruiting classes to find another center if we wanted to leave McGary at the four. Of course, he'd likely play some five, but with those two guys here, he wouldn't be forced to play there.

And just to back that up, I saw an article today that includes Marquette among the schools still in the mix for McGary. Of course, the writer also listed 13 other schools, including heavy-hitters like UNC, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, and Indiana, but at this point, I'd take being in the final 14.

[Bob "Big Daddy" Wild]

Can someone offer explanations as to why the #1 recruit from Illinois is only the #63 overall according to Scout?

Even the basketball powerhouses of Sheboygan and New Hampshire were represented in the top 50.  What's up with the state of HS basketball in the State of Illinois?

Look at the 2011 and 2013 classes - top player overall on Scout in each class is from Chicago - Jabari Parker and Anthony Davis.  The talent ebbs and flows, both of those classes are big time classes coming out of Chicago, but 2012 doesn't have that many high major players.  Is what it is.

[texaswarrior74]

Everyone needs to stop dreaming about McGary....it isn't going to happen.

[brewcity77]

Everyone needs to stop dreaming about McGary....it isn't going to happen.

Why do you care? And how do you know? Honestly, anyone who says they know what direction this recruitment is going is lying. All McGary has said is he plans to decide fairly quickly. He has 50+ offers out there. Will he look for somewhere he can play immediately? Somewhere that he's built a relationship with the coaches over a couple years? Somewhere where he can slowly develop his skills with an eye on a degree as well as basketball? Somewhere where he will have a good chance at winning national titles? No one knows because he hasn't said.

Most likely we will not get McGary. But it doesn't hurt any of us if we don't get him. If he puts on a UNC hat tomorrow, it won't crush my dreams and leave me despondent, I'll just say "oh well" and start hoping for Dunn, or Cleare, or Bennett, or any of the other guys we are in on.

Seriously, everyone with this "stop dreaming about McGary" obsession needs to give it a rest. Your pessimism certainly doesn't do us any good, and I think it's safe to say optimism (or neutrality) won't hurt anyone.

[Marqus Howard]

Seriously, everyone with this "stop dreaming about McGary" obsession needs to give it a rest. Your pessimism certainly doesn't do us any good, and I think it's safe to say optimism (or neutrality) won't hurt anyone.

Couldn't have said it any better myself. Same thing goes for Parker. Nothing wrong with dreaming big.

[texaswarrior74]

Honestly, I wish it would happen but just don't think that the program has the cache that it did during Al's days yet. (operative word here is yet)

A few more years of winning consistently including more marquee wins, less "predictable" losses, and more deep tourney runs and we can be effectively competing for guys who rank in the top 5 at their positions on a regular basis.

We also need a more unified fan base.....there were too many here (and elsewhere) still taking shots at Buzz and especially his JUCO recruiting just a few weeks/months ago. If you don't think the top recruits (and their parents) don't read the fan boards you're sorely mistaken. On some boards players' parents and their AAU coaches are frequent contributors not just drive bys.

We've got a way to go to level the playing field but can get a lot closer with a few more winning seasons with recruits that Buzz brings in and manages to keep around for four years.

BTW, I think that Michigan is the dark horse for McGary right now and would not be surprised to see him commit there.

[bilsu]

We probably still have a chance at McGary, but it does get irritating after a while when people keep obsessing about getting a certain player. Last year we were clearly out of the Tokoto race and people kept obsessing about him. This year we are clearly out of the race for Bronson Koenig and people keep talking about him.

[MU_Iceman]

We probably still have a chance at McGary, but it does get irritating after a while when people keep obsessing about getting a certain player. Last year we were clearly out of the Tokoto race and people kept obsessing about him. This year we are clearly out of the race for Bronson Koenig and people keep talking about him.

I'd love McGary and I have no doubts that Kris Dunn will be a very good player...but given the make-up of this team and the recent verbal from Taylor (coupled with the fact that we have a hybrid guard and a 2/3 switchable coming in next year as well) I would be thrilled if we got Cleare or Nolan at this point.

For me, with 2013 being widely regarded as a "loaded class" in the midwest, my pecking order for 2012 now would be McGary, Cleare, Nolan...Cadougan is going to be a very effective player and [TJ] Taylor is already believed to be an effective PG...I, personally, subscribe to the belief that you can teach ball handling, you can teach on-court awareness and decision making, but you can't teach size...add one more TRUE post player to the mix and this team is still well balanced after O'Tule leaves.

[Benny B]

Honestly, I wish it would happen but just don't think that the program has the cache that it did during Al's days yet. (operative word here is yet)

A few more years of winning consistently including more marquee wins, less "predictable" losses, and more deep tourney runs and we can be effectively competing for guys who rank in the top 5 at their positions on a regular basis.

We also need a more unified fan base.....there were too many here (and elsewhere) still taking shots at Buzz and especially his JUCO recruiting just a few weeks/months ago. If you don't think the top recruits (and their parents) don't read the fan boards you're sorely mistaken. On some boards players' parents and their AAU coaches are frequent contributors not just drive bys.

We've got a way to go to level the playing field but can get a lot closer with a few more winning seasons with recruits that Buzz brings in and manages to keep around for four years.

BTW, I think that Michigan is the dark horse for McGary right now and would not be surprised to see him commit there.

While it certainly is a plus, not having cachet on par with the like of Duke, UNC, UK, etc. does not preclude one from landing a 5-star recruit.

Granted, McGary is a top-5 recruit, so perhaps he belongs in a "6-star" category that is reserved only for the elite.  Nonetheless, his Scout list is 11:  Arizona, Duke, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas.  The only notable absence is UCLA.  Otherwise that, my friends, is called a "who's who" list.

The fact that Marquette is there may be a surprise to some; it may be a chest-thumping moment for others.  And then, there are those who simply chalk it up as another expectation met.  Regardless of how you categorize such, Marquette is back on the main stage... if you want to throw tomatoes, go ahead; just don't get upset when we throw back.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

The fact that we are in McGary's list and those of other top recruits shows we are on the Elite's radar.
Can't ask for better.. We have serious candidates looking closely and we will get our share going forward. The glass is half full

[brewcity77]

The fact that we are in McGary's list and those of other top recruits shows we are on the Elite's radar.
Can't ask for better.. We have serious candidates looking closely and we will get our share going forward. The glass is half full

McGary just narrowed his list to 6 and we aren't on it.

But we are still definitely in the mix for Cleare, and some consider us the favorite for Dunn as well.