Recruiting Report: Tai Strickland (2018)
2018 guard Tai Strickland is someone that has really taken the next step this season. The Tampa Catholic junior is almost a different player than he was a year ago and as a freshman when he played at rival Jesuit.…
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Continue Reading2018 guard Tai Strickland is someone that has really taken the next step this season.
The Tampa Catholic junior is almost a different player than he was a year ago and as a freshman when he played at rival Jesuit. The 6’0″, 165-pound Strickland is best known to be the son of former NBA player Rod Strickland.
However, Tai is branching out and showing that he can be reliant upon his own game. For the Crusaders (12-2), he’s averaging 14.1 points, 3.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals this season.
He says his team has improved with every game.
“We are really starting to come together as a team which will help us make a state title run,” Strickland said. “My ultimate goal is to win states and we go into every game knowing that we are getting the opponents best so we have to come with our A-game.”
It certainly helps to have one of the top-ranked seniors in the nation in Kevin Knox on his side, but Strickland has had some big scoring outputs this season. From Dec. 10 to Dec. 29, he had five 20 point efforts in seven games which included the City of Palms Classic and John Wall Holiday Invitational.
Last season, Strickland didn’t reach the 20 point mark with a 19-point game being his best mark. He says he wants to improve everything right now so he can become more of a complete player.
“I’ve been able to step up and be a leader at point guard as well as being able to score and shoot better,” he said.
Currently, Strickland holds one offer from USF. He’s also drawn interest from Kansas State, FAU, Virginia, Illinois State, FGCU, North Florida and Samford.
No one program is showing them most interest in him, but here’s how he sees his game translating at the next level.
“I think I can fit in anywhere and become a game changer because I’m able to do everything on the court,” he said. “I can rebound, play defense, pass and score.”
Strickland is a speedy guard who has a bright basketball mind. He scores when he needs to, plays sound defense throughout games and his aggressiveness towards the inside is noticeably better. He’s a rising 2018 prospect.
Photo credit: Hoop Diamonds