New Guard Target: Tyrone Taylor

Feb 1, 2014; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mark Turgeon talks to his team during the second half at Cassell Coliseum.Maryland Terrapins defeated Virginia Tech Hokies 80-60 Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

With the first of three July live periods taking place over the weekend, coach Mark Turgeon and new assistant Cliff Warren were out in Chicago scouting point guards. Among them was 2015 combo guard Tyrone Taylor.

Taylor was a former 2014 point guard that was almost bound for Texas, then reclassified to the 2015 class. However, he made sure to say that Texas was not in the lead.

“I’m starting all over,” Taylor told TerrapinStationMD. “Kansas State, Maryland, Minnesota and Texas are all recruiting me and they are still getting to know me, so everyone is even right now.”

Taylor considers himself a combo guard right now, but at the next level he’s looking to become a point guard.

“I know I can score the ball well right now,” Taylor said. “So my main focus is becoming a better passer. A lot of schools know that my offensive game is good, but defense is a concern. I’m working to show coaches that I can do well on both sides of the ball.”

Taylor said that Kansas State, Maryland, Minnesota and Texas are recruiting him hard, but Taylor spoke highly of Maryland.

“I like the coaching staff a lot. Even though they’ve been down the past couple of years, when you look at their recruiting classes, they have great potential to get better. I know that I fit in and they can make me better and I can make them better.”

Although he said he would like to eventually visit Maryland to get a better feel of the program, Taylor reiterated that it is early, but said that Maryland “may be” close to offering.

With Paul VI point guard Kevin Dorsey off the board to Minnesota, the staff has been evaluating a lot of point guards in the 2015 class. Taylor has potential to improve his game all around, but with their top targets, such as St. James School’s Justin Robinson gaining more interest from around the country, Maryland is looking at all their options. Taylor is certainly one to watch.