Stock Report: Brendyn Taylor (2017)
Ask Brendyn Taylor who he models his game after and McAuley Catholic’s 2017 PG will tell you he’s a fan of Russell Westbrook. “I love his passion for the game and his drive to get the job done,” said Taylor.…
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Continue ReadingAsk Brendyn Taylor who he models his game after and McAuley Catholic’s 2017 PG will tell you he’s a fan of Russell Westbrook.
“I love his passion for the game and his drive to get the job done,” said Taylor. “I think he makes good decisions and I try to model that. He does what it best for his team and that is what it is all about.”
After registering the first triple-double of his career last week, Ozark 7 opponents may start looking at the 6’ senior as the conference’s own version of the NBA superstar. Taylor scored 19 points, handed out 10 assists and totaled 11 steals in a 78-40 win over Exeter.
After flirting with the rare feat several times over the last two seasons, Taylor was ecstatic when he found out he had finally accomplished a lifelong goal.
“I was very excited,” said Taylor. “It has been a goal of mine since elementary school. During the game it didn’t even cross my mind that I was close, my stats aren’t something that cross my mind when I’m playing. I usually turn it over when I start thinking about it. I knew that we had run the ball which usually leads to the stats but I had no idea of the extent.”
Taylor may not pay close attention to his stats, but others are beginning to take note of one of the hidden gems in Southwest Missouri.
The reigning Ozark 7 Player of the Year is posting a modest line of 11.8 points, 9.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 steals, hitting double-digit assists in 10 of his team’s 17 games this season.
In fact, according to MaxPreps, nobody in Missouri has handed out more assists than Taylor over the last two seasons – 352 and counting. His assists average this year is fifth in the nation among those teams reporting to MaxPreps.
His play helped guide the Warriors to the Ozark 7 championship and 22-win season last year, the program’s first 20-win season in a decade.
McAuley is off to a 13-4 start this year, with losses coming to previously state-ranked Class 3 programs Fair Grove and Clever, as well as perennial Class 3 power Mount Vernon and last year’s Class 2 state quarterfinalist Purdy.
Last year the Warriors lost to Purdy in the district championship despite entering the tournament with the No. 1 seed and two regular-season wins over their conference rival.
Taylor is hoping that his improved play can help get McAuley claim its first district title in more than a decade.
“The difference that I see in my play this year is that I am making better decisions,” said Taylor. “I feel that I am taking the shots when I need to and making the passes when I need to. This summer I focused on my decision making. As a guard my decisions make or break us. I wanted to focus on making the decisions that lead to points instead of turnovers.
“As a team, we definitely feel that we are playing well. We hope to continue winning as districts are coming up. Purdy is our homecoming and we want to make a statement. They are a great team and they always play up to the occasion. We have nothing but respect for them as a team but we for sure want to beat them. They have been a big game for us every year and we still have a hole to fill after losing to them in the finals last year. We are looking forward to the rematch.”
Taylor plans on attending Missouri State University, but is very much open to the possibility of playing college basketball.
“I have not been contacted by any schools for basketball, so as of now I am planning on going to MSU,” said Taylor. “Playing college sports has always been my dream. The thought of playing basketball after high school hadn’t crossed my mind until recently. It’s going to be hard to let the sport go if I do not play somewhere. It had always been my passion.”