Movin’ On Up – Former Indian Hoopster Drafted

7/3/08

By Clint Cox
Former Chipola Indians basketball standout Mike Taylor was recently selected with the 55th pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Portland Trailblazers. Taylor became the first player from the NBA Development League to be drafted by an NBA team. A member of the 2008 NBA D-League Champion Idaho Stampede, Taylor was then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future second round draft pick.
Taylor was a member of the Chipola basketball teams during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. He averaged 9.8 points per game and 2.8 assists during his time at Chipola. Taylor helped lead the Indians to two Panhandle Conference Championships, a Region VIII Championship, and NJCAA National Tournament Final Four Appearance, while compiling a 62-8 record. Many Indian fans remember his emotional performance during the 2005 Region VIII Championship game against Tallahassee. Although the Indians lost by 2 points in triple overtime, Taylor will be forever remembered for his performance that night as he knocked down 7 consecutive 3-pointers during a stretch run in the second half.
After leaving Chipola he spent one season at Iowa State where he led the team in scoring (16 ppg), scoring 20 or more points nine times. His season high was 33 points against Minnesota. He left after one season and eventually landed with the Idaho Stampede in the NBA’s Development League. In helping lead the Stampede to a championship he averaged 14.5 ppg, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assist as the team’s sixth man. His season high score was 32 points against Tulsa.
Chipola Coach Greg Heiar commented, "I am extremely proud of Mike Taylor and this is a combination of many years of hard work and refocusing his life. It is exciting to see Mike succeed in life and the entire Chipola community wishes him all the best."