Feb. 2, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - When he enters a gym, senior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla.) is usually certain that he is the best athlete on the scene. Taylor, who ranks sixth nationally in scoring at 23.9 points per game, typically wows the crowd with an array of dunks and acrobatic shots.
Taylor was a three-sport star at Tavares High School, also excelling in football and track and field.
On Wednesday when the Knights (15-6, 5-2 Conference USA) host Houston at 7 p.m. for a pivotal league contest, Taylor might not be the top athlete at the UCF Arena. Taylor's good friend, Joe Burnett, who concluded an impressive football career at UCF this past fall, will be in attendance.
Burnett, who garnered All-America honors as a senior in 2008, will sign autographs before the game and will also be honored at halftime. UCF's sports marketing office will be distributing 1,000 commemorative Burnett posters which can be used for autographs.
A native of Eustis, Burnett ranked seventh nationally in kickoff returns and 10th in punt returns. The cornerback also posted four interceptions for the Knights. This past weekend, he competed in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game in El Paso.
Taylor and Burnett both hail from Lake County and were AAU teammates on the summer basketball circuit while in high school.
Head coach Kirk Speraw's Knights have won five-consecutive contests and are currently tied for second in C-USA.
The game is being marketed as a Whiteout and all fans are encouraged to wear white to the arena to support the Knights. UCF's marketing staff is also urging fans to wear UCF gear to work and school on Wednesday to raise awareness about the game.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
The first 4,000 students to enter the arena will receive a limited edition Knightmare t-shirt. All UCF students are admitted free with a valid school ID. On Tuesday and Wednesday, UCF marketing representatives will be on hand outside the Student Union, where students can again participate in the Text 10 promotion. Students who text 10 friends about the game will receive a coupon for a complimentary Double Stack hamburger at Wendy's.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Notes: UCF-Houston will be televised live nationally on CBS College Sports... Sophomore guard Taylor Young (Orlando, Fla.) currently leads the nation in assist/turnover ratio (3.67)... When the Knights face Houston, UCF will be seeking its first six-game winning streak since opening the 2006-07 campaign 6-0.