The Grambling State Tigers won the recruiting battle over Alabama State and Florida A&M University for the dual sports star, Darius Taylor.Talent and options.
Recent Anniston High School graduate Darius "Boo" Taylor was skilled enough in two sports that he didn’t have to worry about which one would ultimately come through and fund his college education. Taylor, who stands at 6-foot-4, played basketball and track as a Bulldog. He was most widely known for his exploits on the hardwood, where he played a key role as Anniston’s sixth man during the Bulldogs’ run to the Class 4A state title in 2009. He emerged as a starter at forward in his senior season and averaged a double-double at 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs advanced to the state semifinals, losing to eventual champions Ramsay.
Taylor was a first team selection to The Star’s Class 4A-6A All-Calhoun County team and was chosen to the Fab 5, a list that comprises the best five players in the paper’s seven-county, 30-plus school coverage area regardless of classification. However, Tuesday morning at Carver Community Center in West Anniston, Taylor signed a National Letter of Intent to run track at Grambling (La.) State University.
“I liked them both,” Taylor said when asked which sport he preferred growing up. “I wanted to play basketball, but I knew it didn’t matter because I liked doing both.” Taylor picked up the sports in middle school and became an elite competitor under basketball coach Schuessler Ware and former boys track coach Alex Wilson, who was among the family and friends present at the ceremony. He placed fourth in the state in the 400 meters this past spring. But it was after he ran the 800 meters in 1:58 to place third at the state meet in Gulf Shores that he began to garner the attention of college coaches.
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