Despite playing sick, Tayler Hill poured in 24 points last week in her last collegiate visit to her hometown. In the process, the Ohio State senior guard and former Minneapolis
South standout surpassed 1,700 career points — to do so, she needed only three points coming into last Thursday’s contest against Minnesota.
“I actually didn’t know about it,” admitted Hill afterwards of the career mark. The 5-10 guard has the Big Ten’s longest active double-figure scoring streak. Hill reached the 50-game mark against the Gophers and leads the conference in scoring just over 21 points a game (11th nationally), and also leads the league in minutes played (32 minutes a contest).
Hill played the entire 40 minutes at the Barn in a losing effort. “She played
with that energy,” noted her coach, Jim Foster. “I think Tayler is a special player,” added U-M Coach Pam Borton. “Tayler worked extremely hard to improve her game, and she’s only gotten better.” “I’ve watched Tayler since eighth grade,” Green Central Park School teacher Tonyus Chavers told the MSR during the game. She watched her “battle” but
fail to win a state championship. “Then, seeing her win it in her senior year [at
South] was special. Then, watching her from a distance at Ohio State, I’d really
wished she had come to the ‘U.’” “I wished she was on my team,” said Borton of Hill. “She’s a pro, competitive, and has a killer instinct. She is one of the best players in this league and in the country.”
As one of the few Minneapolis City Conference females to play in the Big
Ten, Hill is nearly midway through her senior year at Columbus. “It’s been a
great journey,” Hill said of her college years, “but a journey that has come up
fast.” She is one of 30 candidates for the annual Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty
and Achievement for Staying in School) Award. The winner — candidates have
posted achievements in community, classroom, character and competition — will be
announced during the Women’s Final Four in New Orleans in April.
If drafted later this spring, Hill would be the 11th WNBA draft pick under Foster.
“I don’t know if she wants to do the WNBA or not, or even play in Europe,” stated Chavers. “I know she has really big dreams being a pediatrician, and I really look forward to seeing her succeed as a doctor. She really is a special talent.”
Globe-tracking the Lynx
Maya Moore finished her season in China as her league’s leading scorer (39.7 ppg) and nearly four steals per game… Seimone Augustus’ Sparta&K (Russia) team is in first place in Group A of the EuroLeague… Monica Wright is averaging 14.4 points and 5.6 rebounds a game in the WNBL… Amber Harris is averaging 19.3 points and 11 rebounds for Bichumi (Turkey), who return to action January 25… Jessica Adair scored 11 points in her last game for Townsville (Australia) and resumes play this weekend… Galatasaray won its fourth consecutive Turkish Cup and is now in EuroLeague group play — Lindsay Whalen had six assists, six points, and seven rebounds in her last action.
Hollins makes final cut
Gopher sophomore guard Andre Hollins last week was named one of 20 finalists for
the Bob Cousy Award. The award is given annually to the nation’s top men’s basketball
point guard.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
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