NC State Basketball

NC State adds Butler CG Jayden Taylor in Transfer Portal

Published

3 years ago

April 11, 2023

After a Damian Dunn (Temple SG) chose Houston last week, NC State keyed in on a few other 2 guards, one of which was Jayden Taylor from Butler, who just committed today.

wolfpack nation… ITS UP 🐺🤘🏾@TiptonEdits pic.twitter.com/kegcmxg71J

— Jayden Taylor (@coojayy1) April 11, 2023

Taylor is a 6’4, 195lb shooting guard who is really versatile and while he might not have the 3 point range that Terquavion Smith had, he still can knock it down from out there and is a lot more selective with his shots from beyond the arc.

Taylor averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds last season, shooting 40% from the floor and 32.6% from deep. He shot 331 shots last season and 138 of those were 3s. He’ll likely be slotting in as a starter in place of Smith who averaged 18 and 4 last year. However, Smith shot 38% from the floor and 33.6% from long range. They are pretty close percentage wise, however Smith shot 547 shots last season and 271 of those were 3s.

For those Pack fans who were frustrated at the volume of shots Smith was taking last year, they’ll like the style of Taylor a little more. He’s not a volume scorer, but he is a very versatile player. He plays physical and likes to attack off the drive, but can get hot from downtown as well.

He’s got a good handle and is a smart basketball player. In fact, many anyalysts believe we haven’t even seen the best of Taylor yet.

Here is Jake Weingarten from Stockrisers.

Jayden Taylor to the Wolfpack is huge for Kevin Keatts and NC State. Will be an immediate impact and is a total program-changer. With the departure of talented sophomore Terquavion Smith, Keatts inserts another talented 6’4 prospect in Taylor — bound to breakout.

— Jake (@jakeweingarten) April 11, 2023