TAAC Conference preview: Young Guns featuring Jerry Easter II
The TAAC Conference was formed in 1988 and never has there been such excitement around a player or program since Zeb Jackson (now playing for the University of Michigan) and the MVCD team. This season the buzz is about the…
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Continue ReadingThe TAAC Conference was formed in 1988 and never has there been such excitement around a player or program since Zeb Jackson (now playing for the University of Michigan) and the MVCD team. This season the buzz is about the Emmanuel Christian Warriors and their prized freshmen Jerry Easter II, we will also look at Cardinal Stritch and their team with New Head Coach Sedron Harris and his team’s expectations. There are some young talented players on these two contenders for the TAAC crown.
Jerry Easter II – 2025 – 6’5 PG – Emmanuel Christian
Easter in some publications is rated the top freshmen in the country in the class of 2025, the 6’5 PG already holds 5 Division I offers from BGSU, Arizona State, Washington with South Carolina and Ohio State coming in the last month. Seeing him play in open gym, it’s not hard to see why, he has a very mature game, he can really score the basketball, on occasion he would make an eye-popping pass, you could tell that he sees the game 1 or 2 steps ahead. You can see that he has put the work in, by the way, he plays the game.
With several D1 schools were in attendance to watch the open gym, Easter put on a barrage of scoring displays from his deep range from 3, to a steal and a ferocious one-handed dunk to back-to-back layups. The class of 2025 star already has a head start on success boasting almost 24k followers on his Instagram account. Emmanuel Christian will be tough to beat in the TAAC as well as a legitimate contender in the State. Easter will be an early favorite for TAAC Player of the Year.
Jalen Brown – 2024 – 6’2 SG – Emmanuel Christian
Brown has burst on the scene after a successful AAU campaign, the 6’2 SG will be one of the best athletes in the TAAC Conference, he has a huge upside and will only get better, first on the offensive end, he is a tremendous athlete who excels in transition and has really good range on his jump shot, with several go moves on display he plays with a patience that can’t be taught and can finish strong at the rim.
On the defensive side, he is going to cause havoc as he anticipates very well with quick lateral movement and active hands in the passing lanes, which led to easy layups on the other end. I was impressed with how steady he plays the game, look for him to garner TAAC honors this season.
Tommie Taylor – 2024 – 5’8 PG – Cardinal Stritch
Every good car needs a good engine, Cardinal Stritch has a really superb one in Tommie Taylor, I watched him really take control of the team during the scrimmage and the super quick lefty is going to leave his mark in the TAAC conference. Taylor, who is a pass-first PG, controls the tempo and gets his teammates the ball in scoring positions, He had a sequence in which he grabbed a rebound and was ahead of everyone on the court with a few short burst of speed.
I like the way he finishes in traffic with a purpose, he is a natural leader, with great instincts and can guard the ball with immense pressure, if you play with the ball, he will make you pay with quick hands for a steal. He is an intelligent passer who made sure his teammates were involved. Look for Taylor to be the driving force behind Cardinal Stritch this season.
Owen Yost – 2024 – 5’9 SG – Cardinal Stritch
Yost is a lethal shooter, he displayed his range as well as the ability to come off screens and moving continuously without the ball. He has a really good stroke to go along with great footwork, the reps he has put in has paid dividends, his hands are always ready his feet are prepared and aligned for the shot every time. He also surprised me with his ability to slash and get to the rim, often setting his defender up with a pump fake.
Yost is a underrated defender who was in great guarding position anticipating passes for steals, he is also a avid rebounder for his size, I like his competitive drive and energy he brings on the court.
Christian Swilling – 2024 – 6’1 SF – Cardinal Stritch
Swilling, is the enforcer. He will be a double double player for Cardinal Stritch, he positions himself very well for weakside rebounds and easy put backs. He is a banger with a soft touch around the rim, Swilling has really good hands for a young post player, he is raw but has a huge upside and as he starts to grow and develop, look for him to become a force for the next few years in the TAAC.
There are great storylines surrounding these two teams, Emmanuel Christian is one of the most best teams in the TAAC with some talented impact transfers that will help Easter and Brown every night out. Having a coach such as Lionel Armstead who played at West Virginia at the helm will definitely make the Warriors better, they have the talent and the coaching expertise to take them far. Cardinal Stritch first year Head Coach Sedron Harris believes although his team is one of the youngest in the TAAC that they can compete for a title, they have hard working kids that are dedicated to the success of the program. Harris has put together a very good staff this season with some notable coaches. I believe that Cardinal Stritch and Emmanuel will be the top two frontrunners for the next few years with all the Young Guns they have assembled.