The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Taylor Makes Wizards' 15-Man Roster
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 31, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former UAB men's basketball standout Donell Taylor weathered the storm of training camp and preseason auditioning and made the Washington Wizard's final cut. Taylor is a member of the final, 15-man roster for Washington and is the sixth UAB Blazer to make the regular season roster for an NBA squad.
"It is a dream come true for me to play in the NBA," Taylor said. "I am proud to be a part of this organization. The Washington Wizards had a great year last season and we are trying to build upon the success that they had. I have had the opportunity to work with a great coaching staff, and the veteran players have taken me under their wing, showing me how to conduct myself on and off the basketball court. I am starting to get a better understanding of what it takes to be successful in the NBA."
With last week's announcement that forward Hiram Fuller and guard Billy Thomas were being released, the Wizards' roster was finalized for the beginning of the 2005-06 season. Taylor signed a two-year rookie free agent contract with the Wizards in August. He led the squad's Las Vegas summer league team in scoring with 13.6 points per game. Taylor was undrafted in the June NBA draft.
"No one is more deserving of the chance to play in the NBA than Donell Taylor," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "He had a tremendous year last year and worked extremely hard. Making the Wizards' roster is a great thing for Donell Taylor, but also for the UAB program. Our staff, players and the Blazer family are all very excited for him."
With his first appearance this season, Taylor will become the sixth former Blazer with NBA service, joining Stanley Jackson, Keith McCord, Alan Ogg, Oliver Robinson and McKinley Singleton. Jackson was the last Blazer to see action in the NBA, playing 17 games with Minnesota in the 1993-94 season.
Taylor led UAB in scoring last year, averaging 15.5 points per game for Mike Anderson's club. The Montgomery, Ala., native was instrumental in the Blazers back-to-back NCAA Tournament runs in each of the past two seasons, which included upsets of No. 1 Kentucky in the 2004 postseason and SEC West champion LSU in the 2005 tournament.
