Position: Forward

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: Indianapolis

Taylor put up big numbers the last two weeks and has a current streak of four straight double-doubles. Taylor’s double-double performances against UTEP and Southern Miss guided the Herd to its first two conference wins of the season. Taylor scored 17 points on 6-12 field goals while also grabbing 10 rebounds and  four assists in the win over UTEP. Five days later, he had 13 points (10 in the second half) and 10 rebounds in the team’s second consecutive victory over Southern Miss. Despite posting a monster stat line of 20 points and 12 rebounds over the weekend, Taylor and the Herd fell on the road to C-USA leading Louisiana Tech.

Taylor leads the team with averages of 15.1 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game this season, while also ranking second in assists showcasing his versatile skillset. Taylor’s combination of size and athleticism allows him to get to the rim and finish consistently. Taylor is especially dangerous when he gains momentum driving to the basket as he frequently draws fouls and gets to the line (6.1 free throw attempts per game). He also has the ability to make shots from beyond the arc and after shedding some weight this offseason, Taylor has become more effective at creating his own shot from the perimeter.

Taylor said he has changed a lot as a leader this season. “I’m More talkative on the court explaining the game to my teammates,” he said. “I like being the one they look up to and being the go-to person on the court and off the court if they have questions.”

Bradley Heltzel can be contacted at [email protected]