" Three-Level Fire with a Scrappy Edge"

Mickell Taylor Jr

@_juju2027

6ft, Class of 2027

Experience Prep Academy, TN

MicKell is a scrappy combo guard who can rain in a three, pull up for a smooth middy, or get all the way to the rim. He’s dangerous with the ball in his hands because he can get a bucket from wherever the defense gives him room. Play him tight, and he can attack off the bounce. Give him a step, and he can rise before you get a hand there. He can get his teammates involved, too, which makes it tougher to load up on him when he starts heating up.

MicKell exploded for 742 points in 29 games for Teaneck last season, averaging 25.6 points per game. He made 161 two-point field goals and 99 threes and went 119-149 at the free-throw line. He added 91 rebounds, 66 assists, 68 steals and 3 blocks, finding ways to make plays even when he wasn’t the one taking the shot. His biggest scoring night came at the Bergen County Jamboree, where he went off for 47 points to tie the tournament’s scoring record. McKell helped lead Teaneck to the sectional final, where they fell by four, and earned first-team all-league, all-county, and third-team all-state honors.

The biggest improvement MicKell sees in his game since last season is the fierce edge he brings to every part of it. That competitive fire shows up in the battles that can swing a close game, from going after a loose ball to fighting to finish a possession when the other team gets a second look. He wants to be in the middle of those plays, and there’s a lot a coach can do with a guard who wants to compete that hard even when he’s nowhere near a shot.

Being the only returning varsity player put MicKell in a tough spot. He had to find his own way as a leader while his teammates got their first taste of varsity basketball. He took it step by step and made a point to show those guys he trusted them. That meant giving them room to make plays and building them up as they got more comfortable. By the time the postseason came, the group that had started the year so new to varsity basketball was playing for a sectional title.

The summer was about getting stronger, and MicKell made adding muscle his biggest offseason focus. His grind meant three to four workouts a day, with early mornings and late nights. The strength he put on can help him hold his line when a defender bumps him on a drive or stay on balance when he has to go up in traffic. Now he wants to bring that work into games and see how much more he can do when the play gets physical.

MicKell calls his passing the most underrated part of his game. When a defender steps up to stop his drive, he can find the teammate that defender just left. That gives him a way to turn the attention he draws as a scorer into an easy look for somebody else. This season, he wants to lead his team to more wins and earn a scholarship. Being slept on fuels his fire because he believes his game stacks up with guards who get more recognition, and he wants to show it every time he steps on the court.

MicKell brings that blue-collar edge on defense. He can get into a guard early and make him work just to get the ball up the floor. Make a team burn time getting into its first set, and suddenly it’s rushing to get a shot up. That’s another way MicKell can get his team going before he even touches the ball.

MicKell has the potential to be a go-to guard late in close games. He can change speeds, get a defender leaning, and buy himself just enough room to get a good look with the clock running down. Expect him to want the ball in those moments and give his team a chance to finish tight games.