There Is Nothing Like a Good Off-Season Hoops Story: Taylor King

The news-ticker in the college hoops world works 24/7 nine months out of the year. During the off-season, when the ticker moves just a bit slower, stories that would usually get pushed to the back-burner get over-examined. Even if the stories are from well beyond left field, every writer, analyst and blogger in the country is talking about it, because, well, there isn't much else to talk about.

While most of the discussion and debate this off-season has been surrounding conference expansion and anything involving possible NCAA violations, there have been a handful of wildly-entertaining news stories to over-examine and debate to keep us occupied until Marathon Madness.

Troy Machir, BIAH's resident brainiac on the ridiculous and the unnecessary will be providing you with a breakdown of the most outlandish news stories of the off-season.


When Taylor King decided to transfer from Duke to Villanova, I was certain that the Wildcats would be the consensus #1 team in the Big East and a lock to go back to the Final Four. 'Nova had one of the best leaders in the country (Scottie Reynolds), and stellar recruiting class (Maalik Wayns, Mouphataou Yarou, Dominic Cheek, Isiah Armwood) and a excellent core (Antonio Pena, Reggie Redding, Corey Fisher). They would be adding one of the top transfers in the country in King. How could they not be a lock for the National Championship?

After sitting out a year, King had a hot start to his 'Nova campaign.
Through nine games, King was averaging 13ppg and 7rpg. He had 20 points and clutch three-pointer in a wild finish against St. Joe's at the Palestra.

But as the calender switched from 2009 to 2010, King's game went silent. He shot just 25% over the final 11 regular-season games he played. He looked tentative and sluggish, a little lost. He did not play in the regular-season finale against West Virginia for reasons that would never be made public by coach Jay Wright. This, coupled with the ongoing "baby mama drama" between Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher spelled doom for the once-dangerous Wildcat team.

After 'Nova struggled in the tournament, narrowly escaping a first round defeat to Robert Morris and getting bounced in the second round by St. Mary's, King announced he would quit basketball and focus on his studies at Villanova.

It's not too often you star players quit hoops to focus on college. Rumors circulated that the reason King was suspended was because he refused to take a drug test, the same reason he left Duke. Apparently King was a big fan of the ganja, and he refused to put it aside to focus on becoming a dominant D-I basketball player.

Listen, it's college. I understand If a guy wants to quit basketball to focus on "extracurriculars", he has the right to do so. after all, you're only in college once. The reason Taylor King is being highlighted is because after quitting the team, news spread that King would be leaving Villanova all together. King, a top-five scoring leader in California high school history will be transferring to Southern California, a school already chalk full of bad publicity.

King has long refused to elaborate on the reasons for leaving Duke and being suspended from the 'Nova squad. When He decided to quit basketball, it was because he needed to focus on academics right?

Then why does it appear that King is going to be a member of the Trojans basketball squad?

Most guys only get one chance to shine on the collegiate hardwood. King has had two great opportunities to do so, and now he is seeking a third. By the time he uses up his eligibility (2013) he should be on course to get some sort of graduate degree.

But did I mention that he is planning on joining USC's heralded Film department? Yea my thoughts exactly: A pothead film major in Southern California?

I think Van Wilder has a better chance of getting a graduate degree before King does.

Listen, I hate Villanova, but I was drooling over the notion of seeing Mouph Yarou, Antonio Pena, Taylor King, Corey Fisher and Sottie Reynolds share the floor together.

I don't wish any ill will towards King, but it grinds my gears that some guys get chance after chance after chance to prove themselves at an elite level when their pasts indicate that maybe hoops isn't the right career path for them.