NBA Draft Profile: Tyshawn Taylor

Tyshawn Taylor - PG – 6’3, 185lbs.
Kansas

Taylor has a lot of skills that will translate nicely to the NBA and make him a starter for years to come. His tight handle, combined with a lightning quick first step makes it very difficult to keep him out of the paint. His left hand is by no means deficient and he has a well refined floater, too. Taylor also boasts a freakish 6’6 wingspan, which allows him to get into passing lanes and create deflections. He is a hard-nosed defender and moves his feet very well. He won’t have any problem defending his own position in the NBA.

As is the case with many great athletes coming out of college, Taylor’s basketball IQ and jump shot are going to be his Achilles heel. Questions as to whether he can become a “true point guard” still linger. He made big strides in this area during his senior season at Kansas. From relying solely on his athleticism, he improved his decision-making, pace and jump-shot during his final season. This resulted in an increase of over 7 ppg from his junior to senior campaigns, and a career-high 4.8 assists per game.  On the defensive end, he changed from being a gambler in his early seasons, to taking calculated risks that benefit his team; a maturation process that surely impresses NBA scouts. Taylor will need to continue to work hard in these areas to fulfill his lofty potential.

Walker Beeken of Draft Express sums up Taylor nicely: “It's been impressive to see his scoring and creating ability with his larger offensive responsibilities, but he still hasn't alleviated any of the concerns scouts likely have regarding his ability to take care of the ball and efficiently run a team from the point guard spot.”