Jeff Taylor, a 6'7" 198-pound swingman from New Mexico, committed to Vanderbilt Monday, The Tennessean reported. Taylor chose the Commodores over the Texas Longhorn, and also had interest from the likes of UCLA and Gonzaga.
Taylor is only listed as a three-star recruit by rivals.com, but his offers seem to suggest that he is better than that. Like A.J. Ogilvy, Taylor also has international experience as he played for the Swedish National team.
Taylor should add a nice dimension to the Commodores as he is long, athletic and can get to the basket off the dribble just like fellow Commodore commitment Lance Goulbourne. Between the two of them, the Commodores will hopefully add what they so badly needed last season in players that can create off the dribble and get to the basket. Both Goulbourne and Taylor need to add some weight to bang with the wings of the SEC, but Goulbourne said in his interview he realized he needed to add bulk, and I am sure Taylor realizes the same.
Here is a must-hear interview with Russ Gilmore, Jeff Taylor's coach, who talks about Jeff's game.
The Commodores are still waiting on word from point guard Brad Tinsley, their last target in the 2008 class. Tinsley is probably an even more important target because of the departure of Keegan Bell. Tinsley visited two weekends ago and word is that the visit went very well.
If the Commodores can secure Tinsley, the recruiting class will be the best in Stallings tenure at Vanderbilt as he will have beat out the likes of Texas, Arizona, Marquette, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, Southern Cal, Oregon and Notre Dame for recruits and have three of the top 100 players in the nation according to ESPN in Taylor (#73), Goulbourne (# 87), and Tinsley (#95).
Regardless of whether Tinsley commits (which I hope/think he will), Stallings has brought this program a long way since he arrived in Nashville and is starting to build a perennial powerhouse at Vanderbilt. There is a lot to look forward to right now if you are a Commodore basketball fan, so enjoy...
Here is some footage of Taylor. The video is not the greatest because it is a game not highlights, but Taylor is number 44.
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4 comments:
Looking good. I think our current coaches and administration are doing a better job of marketing Vanderbilt than any other time in program's history.
Of course winning always helps too.
I don't think there is any doubt that this is a top 25 recruiting class, at least when Festus is included.
I was just sitting here thinking to myself... Beal, Lance, Jeff, Steve, Festus, Ogilvy, hopefully Tinsley...are you kidding me!!!That is leaving out the role players who have experience now like Walker, Graham, Darshawn, and Drake. This team may have some growing pains next year, but watch out when everyone gets on the same page!!! Of note too: Jeff and Lance are ranked above two of UT's commitments by ESPN although Tennessee did get Hopson who is a 5 star guy.
My favorite thing i heard about Taylor was from his coach's interview "The Texas coaches think there is only one other player with his athletic ability on their team right now". I am not sure how much of that is just trying to get Taylor to go to Texas, but if it is true, man am i excited since we all know the kind of athletes Texas has.
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