Dec. 8, 2008

BEAUMONT - Taylor Hays, a 6-0 scoring guard, has inked her National Letter of Intent to play with the Lamar University Lady Cardinals basketball team announced head coach Larry Tidwell.

Hays, currently one of the leading scorers in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex at over 23 points per game, comes to Lamar from Aledo High School which is currently ranked No. 9 in Class 4A of Texas High School girls basketball. Hays plays at Aledo for coach David Walker, one of the best in the Texas high school coaching circles, and has done so her entire career with the Bearkats.

Hays' averages over the past two years shows her versatile talent, scoring 16.4 pts., grabbing 7.6 rebounds, and nabbing 3.0 steals per game. Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls Basketball Report has her ranked just outside the Top 300 national category at the small forward position.

"Taylor can really play," confirmed Tidwell. "She has proven that she can play on the high school and summer AAU circuit at a very high level against some of the best players in the country. She definitely has a passion for the game, runs the floor extremely well with a purpose, can hit the deep three, and when slashing to the basket - she finishes."

An all-district player with many all-tournament accolades to her credit, Hays has put up significant numbers in the early part of her senior year by averaging 23.5 pts, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 3.0 assists.

"We feel we really got the total package in Hays," said Tidwell. "She can score, defend, and be a team player."

Likewise, Hays comes from a very prestigious summer AAU team, the Ft. Worth Frogs. During her six year tenure with the Frogs, she helped lay claim to four national championships.

"She comes from a nationally renowned AAU program," added Tidwell. "She could not get any better coaching or player development than she gets from Jim Parker, as he is outstanding."