After playing in Spain, China and Israel earlier this season, former UCF star Jermaine Taylor appears happy to be back in the United States. The guard recently signed with the Maine Red Claws in the NBA D-League and is off to a sensational start with his new team.

Taylor has appeared in three contests for Maine and is averaging 23.7 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the floor.

On Wednesday evening in a road contest against the Canton Charge, Taylor was unstoppable. He scored 34 points on 14-of-29 shooting. He also recorded five steals in the game.

Taylor is not the only individual with UCF connections on the Red Claws. Former assistant director of basketball operations J.P. Clark is an assistant coach with Maine.

Former UCF goalkeeper Sean Johnson has been selected to the U.S. Men's National Team squad that will face Costa Rica and Mexico in upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. The U.S. will face Costa Rica in Colorado on March 22 and meet Mexico in Mexico City on March 26.

The United States is one of the six CONCACAF nations competing in the final round of qualifying for a berth in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

A Lilburn, Ga. product, Johnson made his international debut Jan. 22, 2011 against Chile at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Johnson earned his first start for the U.S. Men's National Team and earned the shutout in a 0-0 draw with Canada at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas Jan. 29. The 23-year-old 'keeper has been capped three times.

Now in his fourth year as a professional, Johnson started the first three matches of the season for the Fire and earned his 16th career shutout in a 0-0 draw at Sporting Kansas City March 16. In 2012, Johnson appeared in a career-high 31 regular season matches for the Men in Red and recorded five shutouts en route to a 1.24 goals against average that was the lowest in his professional career. Johnson made 108 saves in 2012, including a career-high ten saves against the San Jose Earthquakes July 28.

Johnson will miss the Fire's match against Chivas USA at Toyota Park on Sunday, March 24 at 4:00 p.m. CT (My50 Chicago/UniMas/107.9 La Ley).

In his professional debut over the weekend, Deshorn Brown quickly showed the Colorado Rapids why he was a great selection in the recent MLS SuperDraft. The former Knight earned the start at forward in the Rapids' season opener at FC Dallas and recorded four shots, including a pair on goal, in 83 minutes.

On Saturday, Brown and fellow rookie Dillon Powers were two of the most impressive players on the field for Colorado coach Oscar Pareja in a 1-0 defeat.

"You want to have the result, but with this philosophy that we have here we're not afraid to throw the young guys in there, because they deserve it," Pareja said after the game at FC Dallas Stadium. "I thought the performance today by Dillon Powers and Deshorn Brown was great."

In the 13th minute, the two linked up for arguably the Rapids' best chance on goal on the night. Powers chested down a ball at midfield, turned and lifted a perfect pass to Brown, whose ensuing effort on goal was well saved by FC Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.

Colorado will make its home debut Saturday vs. the Philadelphia Union.

Brown was tabbed by the Rapids with the No. 6 overall pick in the SuperDraft. As a junior in 2012, he recorded

The final edition of the 2012-13 Donnie Jones Radio Show is scheduled for Monday at Buffalo Wild Wings on University Blvd., and the head coach takes a look back at an emotional Senior Night at UCF Arena as well as what is in store for the Knights this week. The hour-long show begins at 7 p.m. and fans are invited to listen in person and interact with Jones and host Marc Daniels.

The show airs on the UCF IMG Sports Network and its flagship station, 740 The Game in Orlando.

Keith Clanton, Bobby Horodysky and Robert King III were honored before last Saturday's game against Memphis before Clanton went out and delivered 29 points in his final contest in front of the UCF faithful.

UCF wraps up the season with a pair of road games this week. It first visits UAB Wednesday at 7 p.m. on CSS before traveling to Southern Miss for a Saturday matchup at 8 p.m.

Inside UCF Basketball with Donnie Jones is back on the air Monday at 10:30 p.m. on Bright House Sports Network. This week's show will feature the UCF freshman from the City of Brotherly Love, Daiquan Walker.

A starter in 17 games in just his first season at the collegiate level, Walker ranks second on the team in 3-point field-goal percentage (41.2) while dishing out 46 assists. He also has 13 steals and 55 rebounds to his credit.

Along with highlights from the Knights' two home games, this week's program also takes a look back at Senior Night as Keith Clanton, Bobby Horodyski and Robert King III put on the Black and Gold uniform one final time at UCF Arena.

The show also airs Tuesday at 11 p.m. on Bright House Sports Network and statewide each Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. on Sun Sports.

To watch past features, visit the Inside UCF Basketball with Donnie Jones YouTube page.

To learn more about the show, follow @IUCFB on Twitter.

Keith Clanton and the Knights will play their final home game of the year when they host 17th-ranked Memphis Saturday.

• @UofMTigersHoops (24-4, 13-0 C-USA) vs. @UCFMBasketball (19-9, 8-5 C-USA)
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• UCF Arena - Orlando, Fla. - 1 p.m.
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• Watch on Fox Sports Net @FoxSports
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• Listen on WYGM @740thegame
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• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCFMBasketball and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on .

  

• #UCF will be hosting a ranked opponent for the first time at the UCF Arena#TopTeam
• The Knights are seeking their 3rd-straight 20-win campaign#3Peat
• After he is honored during senior day, Keith Clanton will make his 119th-straight start #ThankYouKeith
• UCF's lone win vs. Memphis came last year in Orlando#HopingforaRepeat
• #UCF is fourth nationally, averaging only 13.5 fouls per game#KeepingitClean
• #UCF and Memphis are the lone C-USA teams to own two wins over top-50 RPI squads this year#FacingChallenges
• Isaiah Sykes needs only 23 points to become the 17th 1,000-point scorer in program history#ChasingHistory
• Clanton needs only four boards to pass Tulsa's Jerome Jordan for 4th on the C-USA career list#WindexMan
• Kasey Wilson ranks 4th nationally in 3-point percentage at 50.7#TreySongz
• Tristan Spurlock averaged 2.0 blocks in UCF's last 3 games#GetOuttaHere

Last week, USA Volleyball had a record 247 athletes invited to participate in their open tryouts for the U.S. Women's National Team, U.S. Women's National A2 Program and U.S. Women's Junior National Team. The tryouts took place Feb. 22-24, in Sports Center II at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo. UCF juniors DeLaina Sarden and Kaye-Alese Green were among those that took part in three-day event. In addition to the athletes, UCF assistant coach Nicki Holmes was also invited as one of 15 court coaches. Here's what they experienced in their own words.

Day 1

Today was a day full of excitement and anxiousness. The trip began with an early flight from Orlando to Dallas and then on to snowy Colorado Springs. We wanted to catch every moment so we took lots of pictures. The dorms are very nice and the beds are comfy. Luckily, we were put together and it's was just the two of us in a room. The first session of tryouts went well and the nerves were immediately forgotten. The first session consisted of a quick hitting warm-up and scrimmaging with constant rotation and it involved a lot of high energy. Tomorrow we have physical testing and two more sessions after that. We've even made some friends along the way which has made the adjustment much easier. We haven't really experienced the altitude change so hopefully that carries into tomorrow. It's great having coach Nicki (Holmes) here with us to add a little more comfort.

Kaye and D signing out! Go Knights!

Day 2

Today was long and hard but so worth it. We had three sessions today. We started off first with physical testing; there was a velocity arm swing, block testing, arm reach, acceleration testing and pro-agility and approach  height  We beasted it! We both touched at or above 10'6"!! The next session was a learning/drills session where the  U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team head coach  Karch Kiraly  taught us the USA blocking format, and offensive schemes. It was fun to learn some new skills and refine some we already had. The last session was all play. It was fast paced, and high energy. We were able to play each other and some of our old club rivals!  Today was phenomenal.

Signing out D and Kaye! Go Knights!

Jan. 18, 2012 vs. Memphis
Clanton recorded one of the most memorable plays in school history, giving the Knights a 68-67 win over the Tigers. Trailing by two points with four seconds to play, Clanton corralled an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and finished a layup as he was fouled to tie the game. Clanton calmly sank the go-ahead free throw to provide the winning point for the host Knights and give UCF its first win over the Tigers. The clutch play capped a 23-point, eight-rebound night for Clanton and caused the raucous student section at the UCF Arena to rush the court after the final buzzer sounded.

One of the greatest players in school history, Keith Clanton will play his final home game on Saturday when the Knights host No. 17 Memphis at 1 p.m. at the UCF Arena.