City Rocks got a huge overtime victory to end their weekend 2-1 and Taggart made some huge plays down the stretch to defeat Drive Nation on Sunday. No shot I saw all weekend was bigger than Taggert’s four-point play with 30 seconds left to take the lead. Taggart knocks down shots off movement and has a quick release off the catch. I liked Taggart’s movement off the ball and some of the designed sets City Rocks ran to free him up for looks around the perimeter. Taggart pitched in just over 12 points per game this weekend and I’ll be looking for him to impact the game in other ways besides shooting throughout the summer.

Putnam has built a dynasty over the past half-decade in the prep school landscape built largely on the back of a tough-nosed, defense-first culture. This year’s group is no different but is complemented by the explosive offensive exploits of Taggart, a repeat junior from the Rochester area. Simply put, Taggart is as microwaveable a shooter and scorer as there is in prep school, with the ability to get hot at a moment’s notice and connect on a half-dozen or more 3s before the defense is even able to react. He’s a bit streaky at times but if he can get going in a game or two this week, it could prove to be the difference for Putnam in taking home the hardware.

Taggart, a junior guard out of Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, has taken on a huge scoring role for his team this winter. The 6’4″ guard is averaging 18.3 points per game while knocking down 69% of his two-point field goal attempts and 43% of his attempts from three. He recently broke Putnam’s single-game record for made threes when he knocked down 10 in a win over Thetford. While his shooting certainly catches the eye, as it should, it’s the other parts of his game that have elevated his play this winter. He has great positional size, the ability to create for himself and others off the bounce, and uses his length well as a finisher around the rim.

Taggart is awesome. The 6-foot-4 guard had two good shooting performances this weekend, but we already knew he had that in his game. What impressed me most was his ability to drive closeouts and finish athletically at the rim against a very good Newman team on Sunday. The 6-foot-4 guard has ridiculously long arms and is far better with the rock in his hands than people think. I was also incredibly floored by his ability to defend ALL positions with strength and toughness. He had one possession against Atticus Richmond Atticus Richmond 6'8" | PF Newman School | 2026 State New E than made my jaw drop. Taggart is stronger than he looks, and I’m very high on him.

The most consistent shooter I have seen in all of the prep schools and NEBL based off seeing Jalen more than once. There are a ton of good shooters but I only have seen those other players once. I was thrilled to watch Jalen take his game to the next level since the beginning of the year watching him take his guy off the bounce to the cup. He gets seperation off the bounce and made multiple contested layups. Jalen makes contested shots from anywhere on the floor. He is a special player and only 5 D1 offers is head scratching. One more year and with lots of upside. He sits at #21 (Top 15 in my opinion) in the class of 2027 rankings but that is whack in itself because he is way better than players ahead of him.

Taggart, out of Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, checks in at #6 among the combo guards and #21 overall. Taggart started the season on fire, scored 20+ points in a handful of games, and was named to the ZG Prep Classic 1st Team in December. The 6’4″ guard plays with elite athletic pop and has established himself as one of the better perimeter defenders in New England. This year, he has taken on a bigger scoring roll, proving to be efficient both at the rim as a finisher and from behind the arc as a shooter.

He finished with 16 points and 2 rebounds, connecting on several timely threes. He made an immediate impact off the bench, knocking down a left corner three, then another from the same spot, followed by a right corner three. He capped off his personal run with a top of the key three late in the shot clock, providing a major spark for his team.

Taggart remains one of the most lethal scoring threats on the court, consistently lighting up the scoreboard. His shooting ability is exceptional, with a quick release and deep range that forces defenders to play tight. Beyond his perimeter game, Taggart is also adept at driving to the basket, using his craftiness and athleticism to finish through contact. Whether it’s from deep or attacking the rim, he’s a constant offensive weapon that keeps defenders on their heels.

Taggart absolutely lit up NEBL session 1 with his shooting ability. I labeled Harrington as the best NEBL shooter from session 1, but the 6-foot-4 guard from Putnam has a case, too. Off the move, off the dribble, in standstill situations—it doesn’t matter. Taggart is always ready to shoot and has the same mechanics to his shot no matter what’s going on around him. He bailed out lots of possessions for Putnam last weekend and is going to continue to do so all season. Additionally, Taggart can defend his position and is a great help side defender, just like everyone on this squad.

Taggart is a jumbo guard who thrives launching up shots from behind the arc. He has a quick trigger on his shot. He had multiple games of making four three pointers. He shows flashes as a facilitator getting others involved. Taggart also used his long branchlike limbs to shag rebounds like an outfielder. He is a prospect who should see a ton of attention from the mid major level over the next several months.