In their first game as UCF Knights, B.J. Taylor and Shaheed Davis displayed extreme promise on the way to slaughtering Flagler College 96-70.
“Yeah, that was important,” said Head Coach Donnie Jones about the impact of his new faces.
It will not only be important, but essential that these two cornerstones can contribute early in the wake of last season’s dismal 13-18 season. The offense has been revamped ion a more team oriented direction, calling on input from all over the floor.
Taylor was electrifying in the first half, scoring 12 points while playing almost the entire 20 minutes. He would end the day with 23 points, eight rebounds and only one turnover in 28 minutes of play.
Davis’ consistently balanced approach netted him 16 points, 11 rebounds – UCF’s only double-double of the game. He dominated multiple facets of the game as he lead in rebounds, forced a block, and sunk two of three three-point attempts.
Entering the game Taylor may have been UCF’s most highly touted recruit, having dominated his senior year in high school. He was the Florida Class 8A player of the year, averaged 34.5 points a game, and shattered the single-game scoring record with 59 points.
He was by and large the most exciting player on the court for the Knights. It was not only the gaudy scoring numbers that were impressive, but the level of athleticism and energy he carried with him. The 6’2 guard wove in between defenders with ease all night, awing the crowd with his intensity and startling vertical leap.
The transition from high school to the next level did not seem to intimidate the Central Florida native, impressing Coach Jones.
“College is a different game, but he’s not looking to score all the time,” Jones said. “He takes what comes his way.”
Knights’ fans got a slight peek at the effort Taylor leaves on the court when he made a full-body extension to tip in a ball shot from far out, leaving his feet as he landed hard on the baseline. It was an acrobatic play normally reserved for close quarter situations, not fourth quarter blowouts.
Shaheed’s path to Orlando was much different, chiseled out over two years of junior college. He averaged 11 points a game at his previous stop, but has impressed the team already with his versatility.
“He’s going to be able to play a lot of different positions, you could see he’s very talented offensively,” Jones said.
The praise was sung from teammate Staphon Blair as well, who had an impressive day of his own.
“He can come in and bring great force towards the game,” Blair said. “He makes shots, he can drive… he can be a great player coming into the game.”
An infusion of high caliber talent is the prime remedy for last year’s woes. If an exhibition game to begin the season is any indication, UCF may have found their answer for a re-birth.
