Tony Morocco needs his Seton Hill men’s basketball team to improve, but he can’t ask much more of Kameron Taylor.
Taylor, a 6-foot-6 senior wing, led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in scoring at 23.9 points per game and ranked fifth in rebounding with 9.5 a game entering Wednesday night’s matchup with Clarion. Not bad for a player who also was leading the league in steals per game (2.6) and minutes (38.9) while ranking in the top 20 for assists (3.3) and blocks (0.9).
“He’s absolutely brilliant in all phases,” Morocco said. “I’ve coached a lot of players, a lot of All-Americans, a lot of kids who have gone on to the pros. He’s as good as there is.”
Taylor had his first career triple-double Dec. 5 with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, but the Griffins (2-7) squandered a big lead and lost at Shippensburg, 94-93.
Still it was a special moment for Taylor, a classic late-bloomer who played with some of the top recruits in the country in high school at perennial powerhouse DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Md.
“He’s one of the hardest workers that I’ve been around,” said Pitt senior point guard James Robinson, one of Taylor’s best friends and former teammates at DeMatha. “He’s just constantly working on his game, loves being in the gym. Obviously, it’s paying off for him.”
Robinson recalls a couple summers ago when Taylor stayed with him for about a month and fit right in playing pick-up games with his Pitt teammates. The growth spurt throughout Taylor’s high school and college years that turned him from an average-sized guard into a big one, combined with his staggering production now, could make one wonder if he would have success above the Division II level.
Morocco says “there’s not even a question.” Robinson’s take? “Easily.” But Taylor is just happy he has come a long way from being a “really raw” prospect who didn’t have a firm grasp on the fundamentals.
“I knew as a freshman that I needed some work, and I knew I had a lot of potential,” said Taylor, who averaged 13.2 points per game last season. “So, I knew wherever I went, I would end up being a great player as long as I stayed dedicated and kept working hard.”
As Seton Hill’s lone senior, Taylor is willing to do whatever it takes to help the young Griffins find their way. He had a season-low 15 points Wednesday night at Clarion, an 81-71 loss, but Seton Hill likely will only go as far as Taylor takes it.
“This guy is a really, really good player,” Morocco said. “I’m not trying to embellish anything. His numbers are reflective of his ability to play. He’s a good passer, he’s an unbelievable rebounder, he’s scoring. He’s just playing 100 percent the total game of basketball.
“Not only that, he’s a hard worker. This guy’s working like he’s a freshman. He’s working every day to make himself better.”
Duquesne
Junior linebacker Christian Kuntz was named an Associated Press second-team All-American among the Football Championship Subdivision. A Chartiers Valley High School graduate, Kuntz is the first Dukes standout to earn such honors since linebacker Antoine Bullock in 2005.
Robert Morris
Offensive coordinator Darrin Hicks resigned after two seasons with the Colonials in which they were the lowest-scoring team in the Northeast Conference. This past season, Robert Morris averaged 14 points per game and also ranked last in the NEC in total offense with 245.2 yards per game.
Thiel
The Tomcats announced the hiring of new football coach Dan Blume at an introductory news conference Monday. Blume spent the past four seasons at Mercyhurst coaching linebackers and serving as special-teams coordinator the past two years. Kurt Reiser resigned as Thiel’s coach last month after going 2-8 this season.
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: December 17, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
