July 1, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Five non-seniors who ranked in the top-25 nationally in scoring in 2007-08 were selected in the National Basketball Association Draft last week. As a result, UCF senior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) will enter the 2008-09 campaign as the nation's 10th-leading returning scorer.
Last year, Taylor averaged 20.8 points, good for 23rd nationally, and established a school Division I record with 646 points. Following the regular season, he earned a spot on the All-Conference USA Second Team.
Kansas State's Michael Beasley (26.2 points), IUPUI's George Hill (21.5), California's Ryan Anderson (21.1) and Indiana's Eric Gordon (20.9) were all selected in the first round of the draft after being among the nation's top offensive players in 2007-08. O.J. Mayo averaged 20.7 points for Southern Cal and ranked two spots behind Taylor in the NCAA scoring statistics. He was also a first-round pick.
Stephen Curry of Davidson is the nation's leading returner scorer at 25.9 points. Nine players who were seniors last season, and will not be back in 2008-09, scored more points per game than Taylor.
A candidate for the C-USA Player of the Year award, Taylor led the Knights in scoring in 24 of 31 games. He became the first player in school history to have more than three 30-point performances in a year since UCF joined the Division I ranks in 1984.
Taylor concluded the season ranked fourth in C-USA in scoring. UTEP's Stefon Jackson (23.6) and UAB's Robert Vaden (21.1) are both back for their senior campaigns.
Taylor enters his senior season with 1,171 career points. That mark ranks 13th in UCF history.
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2008-09 Top Returning Scorers
Stephen Curry, Davidson (25.9 points per game)
Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin (25.7)
Stefon Jackson, UTEP (23.6)
David Holston, Chicago State (23.1)
Donovan Morris, Long Beach State (21.2)
Robert Vaden, UAB (21.1)
Tyrese Rice, Boston College (21.0)
Jonathan Rodriguez, Campbell (20.9)
Jermaine Taylor, UCF (20.8)