Taylor and Lawrence reunited at MU

Taylor sits out this year as a transfer from Delaware.

By Sam Wilson

Published Feb. 8, 2008

Junior guard Zaire Taylor and sophomore guard Keon Lawrence have a lot of memories of playing both with and against each other.

“On teams, we had a lot success,” Taylor said. “I remember one game we went for 87 points together on the same team in a Pro-Am league. So that was a good game.”

But the pair has yet to suit up together at Missouri. When they played together, Taylor played for Curtis High School in Staten Island, N.Y. Lawrence played for Weequahic High School in Newark, N.J. Both from the New York area, they met often at camps and in other leagues.

“We used to work out together in a camp,” Taylor said. “So we were like two of the better players in there. So we’d always get matched up against each other. And at that time, in high school, he was scoring like 30, 40, 50 points in games. Like, he would just score. He didn’t have too many games where he wouldn’t score 30. And me, I had a lot of credibility for locking people up on defense. So they kind of matched us up to see who would win. Sometimes, I’d get the best of the match-up. Sometimes, he’d get the best of it.”

Lawrence said he has vivid memories of playing with Taylor.

“He made me work on defense,” Lawrence said. “He was harassing me, and I had to do some moves that I usually don’t want to do. Not that I don’t want to do, but usually I don’t have to do on other people.”

But after high school, their paths diverged. Lawrence headed straight for MU, but Taylor spent a year after high school at Charis Prep in Goldsboro, N.C. After that, he decided to play at Delaware.

“I had some offers from power conferences, like the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference),” Taylor said. “But I didn’t feel like taking them, because of the distance from home.”

But after one and a half seasons at Delaware, things were no longer working out for Taylor.

“In the middle of my second year, I started to have problems with the coaching staff there,” he said. “And, at the time, I felt like they were picking on me. But I realize now that now I’m starting to grow up and I needed some maturing to do.”

Taylor said he decided to come to Missouri even though he must sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining when he suits up for MU next season.

“I said, ‘This time, I don’t care how far it is from home. Whatever is the best fit for me, that’s who I’m going to take,’” he said. “Keon was already here so I had a link and a bond here. I talked to the coaching staff. Once I came on my visit, it was a done deal.”

Taylor said he has matured academically.

“I never was really a student before,” he said. “Everything was just basketball.”

He said things have changed.

“I’m putting more time in basketball and school than I was at either one there,” he said.

Taylor said he has something of an advantage over players who are playing this season.

“I also work on shooting it a foot back,” he said. “Because next year they’re pushing the 3-point line a foot back. So I feel like me sitting out, that gives me a step up.”

Taylor said adjusting to shooting a foot further back has not been too difficult.

“Now it’s gotten to the point where I think my percentage would probably be better a foot behind the line than on the line,” he said.

Junior forward DeMarre Carroll had to sit out last season as a transfer from Vanderbilt. He had advice for Taylor upon his arrival.

“I just told him it’s going to go by fast,” Carroll said. “Many people say it doesn’t go by fast. But it’ll only go by fast if you’re in here working on your game. He’s been in here working on his game, so it’s going by fast.”

Much of the work Taylor has put in has been on his shot.

“I’m still working on it,” Taylor said. “But yeah, I come to the gym every night, just working on my shot. My goal is just to be the best shooter on the team.”

He said he was challenging himself to get to the same shooting level as teammates sophomore Keon Lawrence and junior Matt Lawrence.

Keon said he doesn’t see the same player he played with at camps back in high school.

“His shot is looking really good,” he said. “He’s a shooter now. He doesn’t go to the basket anymore. He’s turning into a straight shooter now.”

But Taylor, who describes himself as a versatile player, said he doesn’t feel his shooting range is complete.

“Now, I’ve got to work on my mid-range shot a lot more,” he said. “Because I think at this point, with me, it’s pretty much either the 3-point shot or to the basket.