North Carolina Top 80 Player Introductions
There are dozens of examples that highlight how significant hard work and skill development can be within a prospect's growth. That being said, Justin Taylor might be North Carolina's best candidate for this notion in the Class of 2021, given the various stages of his progression over the years. Though he's always possessed talent, Taylor has really just started coming into his own during the last two seasons. Previously at Mallard Creek, the Carmel Christian focal point has steadily made a name for himself while learning how to coexist alongside other scholarship-level prospects at basically every position. Taylor has blazed his own path but guys like Ben Burnham, Kenny Gwynn, Myles Hunter, Elijah Gray, and Glenn Bynum Jr., have certainly played a part throughout his journey.
Often times, being recruited or receiving the appropriate amount of attention is solely reliant on a combination of exposure and reputation. Despite playing for circuit-level programs, Taylor simply did not start generating buzz with college coaches until transferring to Carmel Christian. This was no negative reflection on Mallard Creek or his overall production at the school, as the numbers have been nearly identical since making the move across town. However, it didn't take long for him to get noticed, as South Florida extended an offer before the high school season even officially started. Elon came shortly thereafter with NC A&T and Winthrop getting involved just prior to the start of 2020.
Needless to say, Taylor was truly in the midst of building up his reputation and looked prepared to have a productive summer season. Everything was put on hold, forcing Taylor to reenter the lab and continue working on his craft. Hopefully things will continue prior to the high school season, still allowing for college coaches to get a fresh look at the combo-guard. Next season, he's likely going to be tasked with stepping up even more and running an efficient, well-oiled machine as the main floor general. Taylor's blow-up is still relatively fresh, so his recruitment could genuinely go in a variety of different directions from this point forward. Fortunately, he holds all the cards to his own fate.
In regards to his on-court identity, Taylor is a smart, crafty scoring guard with the ability to operate from either backcourt position offensively. He loves attacking the midrange area for pull-up jumpers but also regularly mixes it up through penetration and from beyond the arc. Taylor is a quality scorer that knows how to generate clean shots off the dribble for himself or others. He possesses useful vision when attacking the basket and is capable of running the two-man game effectively or finding cutters within the half-court set. Though Taylor usually works with the ball in his hands, he's a pretty strong spot-up threat and can seamlessly fit alongside another primary ball-handler. He shows a willingness to fight on the glass, hunt for loose balls, and defend opposing point guards with his combination of positioning and quickness.
