Taylor Made For Lady Cards

By Sonja

Jeff Walz got the phone call. It just didn’t start out the way he expected. Highly prized basketball recruit Asia Taylor remained true to her word and made her college choice on her 17th birthday Friday.

“I was acting like I was in a sad mood.” Taylor told the Courier-Journal. “I was like, ‘Hey, Coach, I am sorry but I have decided to go another way.’ And there was just silence.”

Fortunately, there was a “rest of the story” coming.

“Psych, I am coming to Louisville. It was the funniest thing ever. It was one of the best days of my life.” No doubt, it was also one of the best days in Jeff Walz’s days in the Ville.

Taylor is the highest ranked commitment to Lady Cards basketball ever. Higher than Jazz, Angel or Monique Reid. She’s a skilled wing player who will arrive on campus just as the Cards lose one of the best to ever play the game in the red and black. Comparisons to Angel are already out there from some recruiting analysts.

She’s also got people talking. A brief search of UofL oriented blogs and web sites revealed anticipation, discussion and new levels of pride and excitement on Walz and these Lady Cards. It mirrors the excitement on the returning players. Witness the Cardinal Caravan at Captain’s Quarters, where five of the five players from 2007-08 showed up to talk with fans, sell tickets to the UofL-UK game and pose for photos.

The hoopla, recognition and high expectations comes with the territory. The Lady Cards play in the Big East, and are posed and ready to make a run at crashing the elite club in which Rutgers and UConn are exclusive members of. For Walz, it brings confirmation that the guy and his staff can recruit.

Walz is still looking for a recruit or two to finish out the 2009 class. Markel Walker would be the perfect dessert to this already 4 star feast. Regardless of who he accepts, they’ll join the second stellar recruiting class gathered by Jeff and his staff.

Even though the annual UofL/UK football game is only five days away, one can’t help but smile with excitement and expectation about 2008-09 Lady Cards basketball. If for some reason you haven’t purchased season tickets yet, make that call to the UofL Ticket office at 852-5151 after you read this article. You won’t
regret it.

Asia Taylor had her laugh and silenced Jeff Walz. Here’s hoping she’ll silence Cardinal opponents during her stay.