Lindsay Taylor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Lindsay Taylor, in a photoshoot for Phoenix Mercury
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| Position | Center |
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| Nickname | L.G. |
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | May 20, 1981 Poway, California |
| High school | Chandler High School |
| College | UC Santa Barbara |
| Draft | 2nd round, 26th pick overall, 2004 Houston Comets |
| Pro career | 2004 – 2006 |
| Former teams | Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, Botasspor Adana, Shinsegae Cool Cats |
| Awards |
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Lindsay Corine Taylor (born May 20, 1981 in Poway, California) is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She previously played for the Phoenix Mercury and then for a brief period in 2006 for the Seattle Storm. Before her departure from the WNBA, at 6 feet 8 inches tall, she was tied with Katie Feenstra and Maria Stepanova as the second tallest player in the WNBA. Only Margo Dydek, at 7ft 2in (2.18 m) is taller.
She is currently playing for the french team, Lattes-Maurin Montpellier in the LFB.
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[edit] Early career
According to Taylor, she wasn't involved in sports until she was 15. Taylor attended Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona, Where she helped lead her team to two regional championships and as a senior to the Arizona State Championship. She averaged 19.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in her final year as a prepster. During a game in, her junior year she scored a career-best 31 points and grabbed 21 rebounds.
Taylor later became famous during her NCAA career at California-Santa Barbara, playing center for their women's team. She was the tallest player in school history and attended the same classes as fellow WNBA player Kayte Christensen. In her first season, Freshman Year (2000-01), Taylor capped her rookie season by earning the Big West Freshman of the Year award, second team all-conference and All-Big West Tournament honors She was twice named Big West's Player of the Week, first on January 15 and again on January 29. In her second season, Sophomore Year (2001-02), she earned her second Big West Freshman of the Year for the second straight year. Her third season, Junior Year (2002-03) was capped by an honorable mention Associated Press All-America recognition, Big West Player of the Year honors and her second consecutive conference tournament MVP award. Taylor's Junior campaign was considered to be one of the finest in UCSB history.[1].
Taylor later won a Silver Medal as a member of the United States 2003 Pan American Games basketball team.
[edit] WNBA career
The six foot eight inch tall (2.03 m) Taylor was one of the highly regarded rookies for the 2004 WNBA Draft. She was originally chosen by the Houston Comets but was subsequently traded to Phoenix Mercury alongside higher-regarded Diana Taurasi. She was the second round (26th pick overall) in the 2004 WNBA Draft
Her first game was against the Houston Comets on June 1 of that year. She attempted one field goal, which she missed. Unfortunately for the Mercury, soon after her first field goal attempt, she was injured during another play in that game. She played a career-high on June 27, when 18 minutes in to the game she grabbed two rebounds and scored three points on a 3-point basket late in the game.
Taylor remained on the injured list, but was expected to return later in her inaugural WNBA season. In total, she would appear in just five games and missing over twenty other matches during the 2004 season, seeing limited action in those games before being waived at the end of 2005 training camp.
She spent the 2005/2006 offseason in Turkey, where she averaged 16.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for her new team, the Botasspor Adana. [2]
On April 13, 2006, the Seattle Storm signed Taylor to a training camp contract. Much was anticipated of Taylor and Storm Coach Anne Donovan was quoted as saying.
| What I saw there was some potential. |
May 17, 2006 saw Taylor being released by Seattle Storm a little over a month after she signed with them. She had been slowed down by tendinitis in her right ankle and toes. In all, Taylor played in two preseason games, averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds on a 3-point basket late in the game. She missed an exhibition finale against the Minnesota Lynx and spent several other games on the injured list because her tendinitis.[4]
May 31, Taylor travelled to Korea for two months where she played in the Koren women's league. She played for the Shinsegae Cool Cats.
On September 17, 2006 Taylor had successful heel surgery performed on both heels. She will then recuperation and will then fly off to Montpellier, France. She will play for Lattes-Maurin Montpellier. [5]
Despite her promising potential as a player there are some who are doubting Taylor's talent to be an effective center. There have been concerns that Taylor's height is a hindrance (running the court, mobility), and in fact she is simply too tall to be an effective player, and with being at a taller height then many, makes her more prone to injury. Also some believe that Taylor's body isn't in shape to match her stature and shoul fill out and mature and work on it. [6]
Supporters however defend Taylor by pointing out her speed and coordination as being excellent for some one of her size and build. Others have pointed out her unlimited potential on the court and fast learning as an other source of praise.
| She has unlimited potential on the court and she is also one of the fastest learners. |
| Most girls her size do not have the ability to make the game look as easy as she does. |
[edit] International Career
- 2005-2006:
(Turkey) - 2006:
(WKBL, South Korea), Shinsegae Cool Cats - 2006-current:
(LFB, France) Lattes-Maurin Montpellier
[edit] Honors and Awards
Lindsay had recieved numerous awards over the years. Below are some of the awards she has won.
[edit] College Honors
- Named 2003 All-America honorable mention by the Associated Press, Basketball Times and Kodak/WBCA.
- Earned 2003 Big West Conference Player of the Year honors and to the All-Big West first team.
- Selected the 2003 Big West Tournament MVP and to the Big West All-Tournament Team, averaged 16.7 ppg. and 5.7 rpg.
- Named the 2002 Big West Tournament MVP, averaged 15.0 ppg., 8.3 rpg. and 2.0 bpg.
- A three-time Big West All-Tournament Team selection.
- Named 2001 and 2002 All-Big West second team.
- Selected as the 2001 Big West Freshman of the Year.
- Named to the 2001 Big West All-Tournament Team.
- Earned six Big West Player of the Week honors during her career.
[edit] College Records
- Currently holds the UCSB all-time career record for field goal percentage (.559) and ranks second in blocked shots (176).
- Set UCSB's all-time single-season blocked shot record with 69 in 2001-02.
[edit] College Notes
- Averaged a team-best 16.8 ppg. and added 7.5 rpg. as a junior, while helping UC Santa Barbara to a 27-5 record, the Big West regular season and tournament titles and the NCAA Tournament second round.
- Ranked 25th among all 2002-03 Division I leaders in field goal percentage.
- Ranked 18th nationally in 2001-02 in blocked shots
- Recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds in UCSB's 2002 NCAA Tournament
- Finished her sophomore season as the Big West's leader in field goal percentage (.550).
- Paced the 2000-01 Big West in blocked shots (1.6 bpg.) and field goal percentage (.650).
[edit] High School Notes
- Attended Chandler High School (Ariz.), where she helped her school to a pair of regional titles and the 1999 state championship.
- Averaged 19.2 ppg., 11.0 rpg. and 3.1 bpg. as a senior.
- Named the 1999 Arizona Player of the Year by Gatorade.
- Earned 1999 All-America fourth team honors from Parade Magazine.
- Named 1999 all-state first team by the Arizona Republic and Arizona Dairy Council.
[edit] Quotes
| There aren't a whole lot of advantages, only than you can use the top shelf in your cupboard without any problems. |
- Lindsay on her height. [8]
| On the court, I feel I have a presence on the court. I hope I intimidate other people. |
[edit] Trivia
- Her nickname is LG
- She wears a size 17(US)/53(EUR) shoe.
- Lists volleyball player Gabrielle Reece as her favorite athlete and Dirty Dancing is her favorite movie.
- Majored in religious studies.
- Taylor is interesting in teaching school. She also has an interest in government.
- Taylor loves the outdoors and nature.
- Her favorite color is green.
- Favorite food is baked potatoes.
- Since playing in Turkey, Taylor started reading many novels. "I read a lot of romance novels like Nora Roberts, but I just finished Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now which she described, "was really good."
- Led Chandler High School to two regional championships and the Arizona State Championship her senior year
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- lindsaytaylorbasketball.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-24.
