Recruiting Report: Tai Strickland (2018)
Tampa Catholic 2018 guard Tai Strickland enters his second season with the Crusaders after transferring over from rival Jesuit following his freshman year. The son of NBA great Rod Strickland, Tai stands at 6’0″, 165 lbs. He’ll be a starter…
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Continue ReadingTampa Catholic 2018 guard Tai Strickland enters his second season with the Crusaders after transferring over from rival Jesuit following his freshman year. The son of NBA great Rod Strickland, Tai stands at 6’0″, 165 lbs. He’ll be a starter for the second consecutive season alongside highly touted big man Kevin Knox.
Strickland and the Crusaders finished 26-5 on the way to the 4A state semifinal where they lost to eventual champion Bolles. He averaged 10 points per game and had this to say about this past season.
“I played well but I know that I can improve a lot for next year. I learned a lot from Thomas [Dziagwa] about really working hard and being a leader on the court. I also got to watch Kevin [Knox] become one of the best players and how aggressive and confident he was at all times. This season we should be one of the top teams in the state. We have a couple of guys transferring in and rising sophomores that can really help us improve…”
“I hope to get my scoring up this season. Being the point guard this year I know I have to run the team and that it’s not always scoring so I would also really want to get my assists per game up and my turnovers down.”
How would he describe his own game?
“I’m a pure point guard. I’m at my best when I play naturally and with the flow of the game and controlling it. I feel like I can get to the basket whenever I want so I really want to improve my finishing as well as my pull up jumpers.”
Strickland plays AAU ball for Team Breakdown in Ft. Lauderdale.
“We’ve played really well on the circuit going 7-5. I feel like I’ve played really well so far and I’m looking forward to winning the UAA Finals. I have enjoyed training with Akii Dean from Process Basketball as well as my dad.”
He had this to say about learning from his dad each and everyday.
“It’s great. He’s gone through this process already and he just teaches me that my time will come. I just need to keep working and I’ll be fine.”
Strickland has yet to receive and offer or interest but you can bet a Division-I or Division-II school will come calling this season. Playing next to one of the top players in Florida in Kevin Knox, Strickland will get his opportunities. He got to learn behind graduating senior and Oklahoma State commit Thomas Dziagwa and that bodes well for his confidence.
Update: Strickland received his first offer from the University of South Florida on June 15th.