Zach Taylor to Columbia: Scout’s Take and Q&A
Scout’s Take: On Thursday, October 25, Zach Taylor of Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal/T.J. Ford Austin committed to Columbia University in New York. Taylor is a talented shooting guard who handles his business on and off the basketball court (carries a 3.7 grade point average). He is a confident shooter who gets great lift on his jumpshot and makes big time shots. Zach is also an underrated passer who plays well in pick and roll situations. The 2016 SPC State Champion was nice enough to take time to talk about his commitment, reflect over his past summer season, and explain his goals for this upcoming season.
Q&A Session
Brandon:What led to your decision to commit to Columbia University? What other schools were recruiting you?
Zach: I have gone to basketball camp there for the last three years. At the beginning of camp all the players introduce them sleeves. I always imagined myself being up there with all these kids looking up at me as I stated my name, where I’m from, and what grade I’m going in to. The way the players interacted and how the coach was with the guys, just the atmosphere of the place is truly something. You can never go wrong with an Ivy League school education. It is bigger than basketball for me. My body won’t be able to play this sport for ever, nor do I want it to. I wanted to put myself in the best possible position where I could play competitively at the Division I level and get the best education as well. That is why I feel like Columbia is the best choice for me. I was being recruited by UT-Rio Grande Valley, Boston University, UT-Tyler, Dallas Baptist, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Vasar, Southern Nazarene, Loyola University New Orleans, and I was in communication with the coaches at Rice at one point.
Brandon: What are the Lions getting in a player like yourself? What will you bring to their program and what should their fans expect from you?
Zach: The Lions are getting someone who is willing to do what is best for the team and whatever the team needs in order to win. The fans can expect a lot of high energy and a fun personality on the court.
Brandon: You have played summer basketball with the same talented core group (Quinton Ford, Kylin Robinson, D.J. Thorpe, and Garrett Wilson) throughout your high school career and probably longer. How was it finishing your AAU career with those guys and how would you grade you performance this past summer season?
Zach: It was great playing with them throughout my junior year summer. They are a great group of guys who love to work hard and compete in games as well as in practice too. Those are my brothers and always will be. There is no way I would be where I am today if it were not for them! I would give myself a A-. I felt as if I played well but there were certain times when I wish I would have done more, which is okay because everyone has those moments.
Brandon: Now that you have gotten the recruiting process out of the way, what are some of your personal goals for your last season of high school basketball?
Zach: My last basketball season I plan on having as much fun as possible and trying to play as loose as possible. I have found that when I play loose I am able to play at my best.
Final Thoughts
Look for Zach to be one of the top players in SPC. He will help lead a talented Spartan squad along with “diaper dandy” Nehikhare Igiehon. Columbia is getting a well rounded student-athlete that will represent the program well.