HOUSTON – Raymond Taylor is a huge fan of what is going on right now with the FAU men’s basketball program.
After all, the former Owls guard helped to lay down the foundation years ago on what went from a seemingly undesirable college basketball destination to one that has morphed into one of America’s most desirable places.
Taylor, who played for the Owls from 2009 to 2012, is on the career leaderboard in the following categories:
•425 assists: third all-time
•128 steals: seventh all-time
•177 assists: single-season record in 2009-2010 season
•13 assists: second all-time for single game (2009-2010 against South Alabama)
•12 assists: tied for third all-time for single game (2010-2011 against Warner)
It is safe to say that the American Heritage (Plantation) 2009 alum had a memorable college basketball career at FAU. He was open to speaking on his experience and much more.
“My experiences at FAU were amazing, both the highs and lows,” Taylor said. “Those were the golden years of me being a boy and turning into a man.”
Taylor detailed what that meant to him.
“From being full of myself, being on buses and billboards and life size posters of me in the cafe,” Taylor said. “Making all the mistakes a young person would make with that much notoriety. To the humbling experiences of failing a drug test and having to sit out games. From being [former head] coach [Mike] Jarvis’ favorite player to him being the reason I left the program. From game winning shots. Or comebacks from being down 10 with a minute left. To sitting on the bench in the conference tournament and not flying back with the team, but buying my own flight cause I refused to let Jarvis control anything any more.”
Taylor on the big wins:
“Winning huge road games,” said Taylor, who was listed at 5-foot-6, 145 pounds when he played at FAU. “Winning the conference. Having the record for most assists in a season. Being top three in assists for my career there. To traveling to Amsterdam and other places in Europe with the team, forming a bond and brotherhood we still have today. I got to play with Shavar Richardson while that was like a whole fourth of his life. It’s so many memories, it’s not enough time.”
Taylor now has a front row seat to seeing FAU’s best men’s basketball team in school history. At 35-3, the Owls have the nation’s best record and are in the Final Four for the first time.
“It’s beyond remarkable,” said Taylor, who was born in Miami. “Literally why I chose this school. And honestly it might feel a lil better now cause I appreciate my route so much more. And I’ll love these kids on this team that’s gonna win the title forever. They made my story even more public without even knowing. I’d do whatever for those guys. I feel like I’m in the Final Four about to win a title.”
Taylor shared his honest assessment of this season’s FAU men’s basketball team.
“My first time watching them this year, I could tell what the scouting report said,” Taylor said. “I knew exactly how they were supposed to defend each screen cause every player stayed discipline and did it. On teams I played for, someone would always forget or just do what they wanted to. Like if coach said double the screen and roll, you might have some players switch. But not this unit. They will double every time. So I was saying I knew exactly what their assignments were cause they executed so well.”
Taylor had more to say about this year’s team.
“This is the most cohesive group I have ever seen,” Taylor said. “There is no ego. No selfishness. I probably seen three bad shots all year. I actually fell in love with how they play together and listen to coach so well, he doesn’t even have to coach during games. He trusts that they got it, and they do. The way they communicate and are locked in to one another. I have never seen it before.”
At this time, FAU (No. 9 seed; East Region champion) will be an underdog for its Final Four matchup against San Diego State (No. 5 seed; South Region champion). But Taylor is totally unfazed by that for the Owls.
“They just need to do the same thing they been doing honestly,” Taylor said. “As far as the game plan goes, I would say limit second chance opportunities for them. Force them to be jump shooters. And play FAU basketball.”
Taylor summed it up by speaking on FAU head coach Dusty May, who was selected by CBS Sports as its National Coach of the Year on Thursday (March 30).
“I wish I played for him,” Taylor said. “He lets his kids be who they are and builds from it. He’s for sure a players’ coach and an amazing basketball genius. Like for him to bring Nell [Johnell] Davis off the bench right before conference play and the freedom he gives the whole team. It’s beautiful to watch.”
PLEASE NOTE: The FAU-San Diego State game will tip off at 6:09 p.m. tonight (April 1) Eastern Standard Time at NRG Stadium in Houston.
PHOTO CREDITS: FAU Athletics and NCAA March Madness
