Taylor is college basketball

If there is one player that epitomizes college basketball then you’d have to look no further than the Final Four in New Orleans. Kansas Jayhawks senior guard Tyshawn Taylor is; he’s the good and, at times, the bad.

Taylor graduated high school as one of the top recruits in the nation. He had his choices of colleges, and locations to enhance his skills for the NBA. Bill Self and the reigning National Champions in Lawrence, Kansas seemed to fit the bill.

The year prior Mario Chalmers made the game-winning three pointer to bring the title to KU. He graduated and moved on into the league, leaving behind a legacy that leaves some at Fogg Allen Arena misty in the eyes.

So when Taylor made his way to Kansas, he chose #15, the same number as Chalmers. The invincible highly touted freshman, thinking the slipper will fit right away. Bad.

He played well as a freshman and earned a unanimous selection to the Big-12 All-Rookie team. Taylor averaged 9 points a couple rebounds and assists on a growing Jayhawks team.

Taylor could have bounced to the NBA. Finding a team that would give him a chance, or even select him in the Draft wouldn’t have been hard to find for such a young talented player. He didn’t, he came back to Kansas. Good.

Over the next two years, he refined his game. He became a more all-around player, a leader and a constant for the program. Taylor was one of those players that it felt like he was at Kansas for an eternity. The Jayhawks were good, but they just couldn’t find a way to reach their true potential.

Then at the end of his junior year, Taylor was suspended for a “team violation”, and KU would not disclose the reason. He was forced to sit out several contests heading into the NCAA Tournament. Bad.

Now as a senior, sticking out a career that, looking back, is as good as any player in the recent past. Taylor is in the career record book for games played (1^st), minutes played (2^nd), assists (6^th), steals (20^th) and wins in one of the most competitive conference in the countries.

Taylor leads Kansas into the Final Four with a singular goal. He’s the Mateen Cleaves of this generation. Taylor is college hoops, and all that comes with it.