Kaiden Taylor '25 Recruiting Profile

I found a passion for the game of basketball at a very young age, and I wanted to put in the work to better myself throughout the course of my basketball career.  Growing up, I started playing when I was five years old.  It was always something fun to do, but I never really put much thought into it at the time.  That changed in 5th grade when I realized I found something that I wanted to do full time, and found my true love for the sport and was willing to do anything to become the best version of myself.  I have learned many things about myself in the time I have been playing basketball.  I have learned that I am willing to do anything it takes to win.  I also learned that I don't want to take things for granted, as I want to make the most of what stands in front of me.  

Moving onto school, I deeply value school, school comes first, then sports. I want to not only be a good basketball player, but also be the best student I can possibly be.  I want to ensure that I am getting good grades in the classroom, which will lead to more possibilities for colleges.  

Some obstacles I have had to overcome in my career; one would be how people caught up to my height.  I used to be the tallest kid and would always play center, but now I mainly play small forward.  Though they caught up to my height, I think I was able to adjust my game in a way that still allowed me to be a great player in my position.  I was and still can do the dirty work and battle it out with tall guys down low and battle it out with them on the glass because of my improved strength and using past experiences of knowing how to play that position.  Also, I have had injuries that were a big obstacle. I sprained my foot in 8th grade which kept me out for a month, resulting in having to wear ankle braces now.  That injury was my first one I ever had, and it really made me think how much I loved the game, because I couldn't wait to get back out on the court and compete. Also it really made me appreciate the game, and taught me to not take things for granted. 

I think my passion for the game carries on to my ability to be a great teammate on and off the floor, and be a positive impact towards my coaches.  I value that as well because it shows how your real character, and being a positive influence like that will not only make me better, but our whole team better.  I think I can fit many different roles and be very flexible.  On the court, I think something unique about me is that I use my IQ and strength to my advantage.  I run the floor well, and use my positioning on the court to create easier opportunities for me to score.  I also try to get on the glass as I value rebounding above anything else.  I think I am a good decision maker when the ball is in my hands, and I can create things for our team, if it is beating someone off the dribble or making a pass to them in stride.  Down-low, I use my strength to my advantage and I try to get into defenders to try and get open looks.  I have a very soft touch around the basket.  I also am not afraid to step outside to knock down a shot. Defensively I have improved my on-ball defense and my awareness to know where my guy is at.