Mike Taylor Picks Up Major Offers; Kane to Marshall; Pitino to Florida

Remember the name Mike Taylor in the coming months and years.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore shooting guard out of Brooklyn Boys & Girls is a star on the rise and picked up a slew of major offers after an open gym Friday at his school.

“Jamie Dixon absolutely loved him and told me to tell Mike he has an offer [from Pitt],” Boys & Girls assistant Elmer Anderson said. “Maryland, Indiana, Villanova, St. John’s and Providence also offered.” Rutgers has also offered, Anderson said.

“And at one point he hit nine straight 3’s from deep all over the place,” he added.

“Twenty-three Division 1 schools were in attendance, including UNLV, Rhode Island, UMBC, Stonybrook and New Hampshire. Mike will certainly be one of the most highly recruited players in New York City the next two years,” Anderson said.

When Taylor dropped 19 points, including five 3-pointers on Lance Stephenson and Lincoln in a 71-61 victory on Jan. 6, St. John’s head coach Norm Roberts was joined by Pitt associate head coach Tom Herrion and Rutgers assistant Craig Carter.

“Mike Taylor can really shoot the ball,” said recruiting expert Tom Konchalski. “He’s a terrific 3-point shooter.”

Pitt has raided this area for guards in recent years. The current roster includes senior Levance Fields of Brooklyn and freshmen Travon Woodall and Ashton Gibbs of New Jersey. Isaiah Epps, the No. 8 point guard in the Class of 2010, verbally committed to the Panthers out of Plainfield (NJ) High.

HITTIN’ THE LINKS:

**Onetime Seton Hall commit DeAndre Kane has signed with Marshall

**6-8 big man Alex Tyus is transferring from Florida

**Richard Pitino will join Billy Donovan’s staff at Florida

(PHoto courtesy fiveborosports.com)