LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- Missy Taylor, a 6-3 wing player from Connersville, Ind., has transferred to the University of Louisville to
continue her basketball playing career. Taylor played for the Purdue Boilermakers last season and will join the Cardinals this fall for her
final three seasons. She will sit out the 2003-04 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
"We feel we have the potential to sign a Top 25 recruiting class and this is the first step in the right direction," said head coach Tom
Collen. "Her combination of size and skill makes her one of the most versatile players in the country. She has the ability to play anywhere
on the floor, from the shooting guard to the post, which gives us the flexibility to sign other top players at their best positions and work
Missy around them."
Taylor was ranked as the 53rd best player in the country and the six best forward by the All-Star Girls Report her senior year. She averaged 21.8 points and 9.8 rebounds as a junior and missed her entire senior season with an ACL injury.
She earned honorable mention All-America recognition from Street & Smith's and was named to the Indiana Junior All-Star team. During
the summer of 2001, Taylor competed at Nike All-America Camp and earned AAU All-America honors.
"Missy was a top player out of high school and has only gotten better now that she has had time to develop," said Bret McCormick of the
All-Star Girls Report. "She is Coach Collen's type of player. She can play both inside and outside. She will fit right into his system and
will have a year to learn and develop into a top player for Louisville."
"There is no question if Missy was in this year's graduating class that she would be the best player in Indiana and Top 50 nationally," said Collen.
Taylor saw action in all 35 games as a freshman at Purdue. She averaged nine minutes a game and connected on 40 percent from behind the arc. She finished the season averaging 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.
"It was unfortunate that Missy had to begin her freshman year at Purdue coming off a major surgery," Collen said. "The recovery slowed
her progress and her ability to be the impact player everyone expected as a freshman.
"Missy's work ethic has allowed her to become a great three-point shooter and an excellent passer. Her size and wingspan allows her to be particularly adept at feeding the post. The
opportunity for her to redshirt and work on her game and mature physically is a great advantage for all of us. She is an excellent student and will be a great role model in the community."