Next game
Who: Dayton (9-4) vs. Mississippi (9-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
TV: WHIO (Ch. 7)
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290), WHIO-FM (95.7)
Ryan Taylor didn’t necessarily want to go to a prep school after graduating from Louisville Western High School this year, but the highly recruited forward needed to clear up some academic issues before enrolling at college and is trying to make the most of it.
“It’s a different experience, different from the public schools or regular schools I’ve been at,” he said. “But it’s been a good experience. It makes you grow into a young man, makes you responsible.”
Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., might be helping Taylor mature into a well-rounded person, but he’s being courted by some of nation’s top college basketball programs because he’s already a well-rounded player.
He made a verbal commitment to Louisville as a sophomore, but he de-committed and reopened his recruiting. Dayton has made a scholarship offer, as have Cincinnati, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Minnesota, South Carolina and Arkansas, according to his coach at Western, Paul Handley.
Taylor averaged 27.6 points, 14.2 rebounds and 4.2 blocks as a senior.
“Dayton is very much in my final five,” Taylor said. “I like the program. ... They make it to the Dance. Because it’s close to home, my parents can see me play. And I believe if I go to Dayton, I can really take them to the next level.”
Taylor said he plans to make an official visit to UD when his schedule allows. He also intends to check out UC, Arkansas and Alabama.
“He’s a great player. He’s a better person than he is a player,” said Handley, who is also Taylor’s uncle. “He’s a great jumper, shoots the ball well, handles the ball well — just a great athlete. He does it all. There are no shortcomings in his game.”
As for assessing UD’s chances against such elite company, Handley said: “Dayton is like everybody else. They like him. They’ve got to be able to sell themselves. They have a good program. I think everybody’s got a chance.”
The Flyers have signed three players in the 2012 class and still have two scholarships to give. Coach Archie Miller (who can’t comment on unsigned recruits) said the class likely wouldn’t be firmed up until the spring, and there are at least two other seniors or prep-school players being recruited by UD.
Isaiah Cousins, a 6-foot-4 guard from Mount Vernon High School, is rated as the 88th-best prospect in the nation and No. 2 player in New York by MaxPreps.com.
Overshadowed last season by state Mr. Basketball Jabarie Hinds, who signed with West Virginia, Cousins is considered a fast-rising prospect and has offers from Iona, Manhattan, Hofstra and Stony Brook. UD coaches have made a trip to see him play and are expected to get into the mix.
Aaron Ross, a 6-6 forward from Little Rock, Ark., also has drawn interest from UD along with Missouri, Washington and Nebraska. Rated among the top-100 seniors nationally in 2011 by ESPN.com, he averaged 17 points and eight rebounds while leading his high school to a state title.
He encountered an academic issue after signing with Arkansas and has reopened his recruiting. He now attends St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Wisconsin.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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