Murray State men’s basketball coach Matt McMahon announced the signing of 6-7 guard Jachai Taylor out of Planet Athlete Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.
Taylor, from Waukegan, Illinois, will be a freshman for the Racers in the fall.
“We are excited to add Jachai to our first recruiting class at Murray State,” McMahon said. “He is a long, athletic, and versatile guard with a tremendous upside. We’re looking forward to his arrival on campus next week so we can get to work.”
Taylor for Coach Eric Bowman in the 2015-16 season and averaged 25 points per game to go with eight rebounds and four assists per game.
He helped Planet Athlete Academy win the Alaska Airlines Classic in January. Taylor was named MVP of the tournament after he scored 27 points (4-of-4 from 3-point range) in the semifinals and 21 points in the title game. He shot 70 percent from the field for the event.
Taylor had a big game against junior college powerhouse Southern Idaho with 19 points and 10 rebounds including five 3-pointers.
“Jachai is a phenomenal athlete and continues to develop,” Bowman said. “He’s a great kid that you want to coach. He punches the clock when it’s time and he has a real blue collar work ethic. He was a role model for our team on and off the court and he’s the kind of person you want to see be successful. For us, he was unstoppable in terms of scoring because he’s athletic and knows how to get himself free. I think Murray State and the coaching staff there is a great fit and I’m so excited for him.”
Following his senior season at Waukegan High School in 2014-15, Taylor was named Honorable Mention All-State in class 3A/4A by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
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