Marcus Taylor
Position: Guard
Height/Weight:
6-3 / 195
Birthdate: November 25, 1981 (Lansing, Mich.)
High School: Waverly
HS (Lansing, Mich.)
College: Michigan State
BACKGROUND
Pro Career Highlights: Played with the Southern Crescent Lightning in the WBA in 2004-05, averaging 18.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and a team-high 6.9 assists. Also briefly appeared in two games in the Greek A2 League with MENT Vassilakis, but did not score. Played in four games with ASVEL in the French League in 2003-04, averaging 5.8 points. Spent the 2002-03 season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the CBA, averaging 8.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 38 games.
Participated in NBA training camp with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fall of 2002. Drafted by Minnesota in the 2nd round (#52 pick overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft. An early entry candidate for the 2002 NBA Draft.
College Highlights: Named First Team All-Big Ten as a sophomore. Played in 59 career games, starting 38 times. Was only the second player in Big Ten history to lead the conference in scoring (17.7) and assists (5.0) in conference games in a single season. Was a member of the 2001 USA Young Men's World Championship Team that won the gold medal in Saitama, Japan.
Sophomore (2001-02): Averaged 16.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. Started all 29 games he appeared in. Led team in scoring, assists, and steals. Scored in double figures 28 times, tallying 20 or more points on six occasions. Recorded career-high 34 points in season finale vs. Iowa, and was named Big Ten Player of the Week after that performance and a 32 point game vs. Ohio State. Scored 21 points and dished out eight assists vs. Stanford. Led team with 20 points vs. Indiana in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Scored 18 points vs. North Carolina State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Freshman (2000-01): Averaged 7.4 points and 3.6 assists in 22.0 minutes a game. Started nine times for a team that reached the NCAA Final Four. Ranked second on the team in assists, and assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.75 ranked eighth in the Big Ten. Scored in double figures nine times, with a season-high of 16 points vs. Oakland. Recorded 15 points and seven assists vs. Florida. Tallied 15 points and nine assists at Loyola (IL). Scored 11 points vs. Fresno State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Had eight points in the Final Four vs. Arizona.
